Sports briefs

Basketball

INTERIM COACH NAMED: Andy Kennedy was hired as interim head coach at Cincinnati on Friday, two days after Bob Huggins was forced out as the Bearcats' basketball coach. Kennedy had been Huggins' top assistant and served as recruiting coordinator the past four years. Before that, he spent five years as an assistant at UAB, where he is the school's No. 2 career scorer.

The 37-year-old Kennedy said he is grateful for the opportunity, and he has Huggins' blessing. Outgoing athletic director Bob Goin will step down on Jan. 1 so his successor can evaluate the program before searching for a permanent replacement for Huggins, spokesman Tom Hathaway said.

BLISS HIRED: Dave Bliss was hired as the coach of the CBA's Dakota Wizards on Friday, two years after he quit as Baylor's coach amid a scandal after one of his players was shot to death.

"I made a mistake and I'm grateful for the second chance," Bliss told The Associated Press before a news conference. "I'm humbled about what I did. Selfishness and ambition played a large role in what I did."

Bliss and athletic director Tom Stanton resigned from Baylor in August 2003, two months after the death of player Patrick Dennehy. Former teammate Carlton Dotson pleaded guilty in June to killing Dennehy and was sentenced to 35 years in prison.

Baylor found that Bliss improperly paid up to $40,000 in tuition for Dennehy and another player, and that the coaching staff had not reported players' failed drug tests. Bliss also asked players and an assistant coach to lie to investigators by saying Dennehy paid his tuition by dealing drugs.

MUTOMBO STAYING: Dikembe Mutombo signed a two-year deal with the Houston Rockets on Friday and plans to retire after the 2006-07 season.

"I don't see myself playing after this contract," the 39-year-old center said.

Mutombo's return gives the team a solid backup to All-Star center Yao Ming. The 7-foot-2 Mutombo is an eight-time All-Star and four-time defensive player of the year.

CAVS FORWARD INJURED: Cleveland Cavaliers forward Anderson Varejao will return to his native Brazil next week for medical tests on a right shoulder injury sustained in a World Championship qualifying game. Varejao dislocated his shoulder in the final minutes of Brazil's 96-94 loss to the United States on Thursday. He said Friday that he would return to Brazil on Monday and then go to Cleveland a week later to see team doctors and get treatment.