UCLA Loses Another Football Assistant Coach

UCLA Coach Karl Dorrell lost another assistant Monday when special teams-tight ends coach Brian Schneider left the program for personal reasons, Dorrell said.

Schneider, 34, who had been on Dorrell’s staff since 2003, coached safeties along with special teams last season.

“This was a very tough decision for Brian,” Dorrell said in a statement.

“On one hand, he loves coaching at UCLA. On the other hand, he has four young children and the grind of living 30 miles from campus has just become too much of a strain on Brian and his family.”

Since the Bruins defeated Northwestern, 50-38, in the Sun Bowl on Dec. 30 at El Paso, Dorrell has had six assistants leave the staff.

-- Lonnie White

USC avoided the loss of a third assistant coach to the NFL when Rocky Seto declined an offer to become the Buffalo Bills’ linebackers coach.

“I was extremely flattered by the offer and I was impressed by Coach [Dick] Jauron and the set-up in Buffalo, but it just wasn’t time,” said Seto, 29, a former Trojan linebacker. “I had to fulfill my obligations to the players and the program.”

Coach Pete Carroll switched Seto from linebackers to the secondary last week after Greg Burns left USC for a job with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Defensive line coach Jethro Franklin also joined the Buccaneer staff.

Carroll also said that David Watson, a graduate assistant last season, has been hired full-time and would assist new defensive coordinator Nick Holt with the line.

-- Gary Klein

JURISPRUDENCE

Doctor Makes Plea Agreement Before Trial

James Shortt, the doctor accused of writing illegal steroid prescriptions to football players, agreed to plead guilty to one federal conspiracy charge as part of a plea agreement, according to court documents in Columbia, S.C.

A spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney Johnny Gasser said that in these types of cases, sentencing usually occurs two or three months after the plea agreement has been reached.

The indictment didn’t specify who received the drugs Shortt prescribed. But a person familiar with the indictment said they were current and former members of the Carolina Panthers, bodybuilders and at least one police officer.

A report last spring on CBS’ “60 Minutes Wednesday” identified Panther center Jeff Mitchell, tackle Todd Steussie and punter Todd Sauerbrun as having filled steroid prescriptions written by Shortt.

A judge granted a six-week continuance to Seattle Seahawk offensive tackle Sean Locklear, charged in an assault on his girlfriend. Seattle Municipal Court Judge Ron Mamiya set March 27 as Locklear’s next court date.

AUTO RACING

Johnson’s Crew Chief Ejected From Daytona

Jimmie Johnson’s crew chief was thrown out of the Daytona 500 for illegal modifications made to Johnson’s car during qualifying Sunday.

Chad Knaus was accused of raising the rear window to alter aerodynamics.

NASCAR said Knaus can’t appeal the ejection.

TENNIS

Agassi Withdraws From San Jose Tournament

Andre Agassi has withdrawn from this week’s SAP Open at San Jose because of a strained lower back.

Radek Stepanek beat Tomas Berdych, 7-5, 6-4, in the first round of the Open 13 at Marseille, France. Tim Henman withdrew because of an injury.

Karol Beck of Slovakia was suspended for two years by the International Tennis Federation after testing positive for a steroid during last year’s Davis Cup semifinal against Argentina.

MISCELLANY

Rams Add Four Assistants to Staff

The St. Louis Rams added four assistants to new Coach Scott Linehan’s staff.

Joe Baker will serve as quality control coach on defense, Jim Chaney the offensive line assistant coach, Jeff Horton the special assistant for offense, and Brad Roll the strength and conditioning assistant coach.

Greg Kraft, Jason Schultz, Richard Johnson and Eric Axley earned spots in the Nissan Open through a qualifier at Industry Hills Golf Course.

Kraft tied with Johnson and Schultz at six-under 66 on The Babe course. Axley tied with David Gossett at 67 then won the final spot with a par on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.