Sports briefs

UNLV coach Sanford has been fired

UNLV president Neal Smatresk and the school's athletic director, Jerry Koloskie, informed Sanford, the former offensive coordinator at Utah, that he would be fired at the end of the season.

"Interim Athletic Director Jerry Koloskie and I announce the decision regarding Mike Sanford's employment regretfully and with the utmost respect for the time and effort he has devoted to the football team," Smatresk said in a statement. "We agree this action is needed at this time."

The Rebels have one game left this season, Sanford's fifth at UNLV, and have won only one conference road game during that time. Sanford's five-year record as head coach is 15-43 and the Rebels have not had a winning season under his direction.

"We appreciate the service, commitment and dedication that Mike Sanford and his staff provided to UNLV over the last five years," Koloskie said. "Our efforts remain focused on building the Rebels into a winning football program."

UNLV is 4-7 this year and just 2-5 in the Mountain West.

Davis captures 1,000m World Cup title

HEERENVEEN, Netherlands — Shani Davis has won the 1,000-meter World Cup speedskating race for his second individual victory of the weekend.

The racing on Sunday was somewhat overshadowed by the news that three-time Olympic gold medallist Marianne Timmer is out with a broken left heel and will probably miss the Vancouver Games.

Davis finished in 1 minute, 8.48 seconds to edge Simon Kuipers of the Netherlands. Davis added to his 1,500 win on Friday and was also in the U.S. team that tied for first with the Netherlands in the men's pursuit. Kuipers finished in 1:09.06.

Ligety in 18th place, Miller makes return

LEVI, Finland — Olympic combined champion Ted Ligety of Park City led the U.S. Ski Team in 18th followed directly by Jimmy Cochran in the first slalom of the Audi FIS Alpine World Cup season.

Austrian Reinfried Herbst edged Croation Ivica Kostelic and reigning World Cup slalom champion Jean-Baptiste Grange for the sixth slalom victory of his career. Levi also marked the?return of Bode Miller to World Cup racing, yet he wasn't able to finish the?second run after getting hit in the face with a gate.

Ligety was seventh after the first run and leading by .37 at the first split of the second run before running into trouble on the steeps.