SPORTS Assignment editor: Dan Ruthemeyer 360-416-2143 / [email protected] New UW offensive coordinator faces extra challenges By TIM BOOTH “Everyone has to deal with it Penn State. He was there for two the first time since 2015, the practice before all sporting activi- AP Sports Writer and it’s not the perfect scenario,” seasons after spending three sea- Huskies will go into a season with ties on college campuses came to Donovan said during a confer- sons in the same role at Vander- uncertainty at quarterback. Jake a halt. SEATTLE — Before college ence call Friday. “At the same bilt. Browning held the job for four Instead of a month getting to football was thrown off course by time, I think the time we have to After being fired at Penn State, years and Jacob Eason was the see how well players were retain- the coronavirus pandemic, new kind of go through a little more Donovan spent four seasons starter last year before declaring ing his offense, and more spe- Washington offensive coordinator detail at a slower pace, that’s actu- working on the offensive staff of early for the NFL draft. cifically seeing his quarterback John Donovan was already step- ally been good.” the Jacksonville Jaguars. Dono- The only quarterback on the options on the field, Donovan ping into a challenging situation. Donovan was a surprise choice van thought his time coaching at roster who has thrown a pass has tried to take all those lessons It had been nearly five years to take over Washington’s offense. the college level was over before in a game is Jacob Sirmon, who online. since he last coached on a college An offseason of change for the Washington called. attempted three last season. Sir- “It’s nice to know that you’re campus and he was installing a Huskies saw the unexpected “I remember growing up in the mon is expected to compete for walking into a situation with a new offense for the Huskies with- retirement of Chris Petersen ’90s just watching Washington the starting job with Dylan Mor- guy that’s got experience, and all out knowing who his quarterback as head coach, the promotion on TV, and I know the reputation ris and Ethan Garbers whenever that,” Donovan said. “At the same would be when the new season of Jimmy Lake to take over the of the place as a school and as a the season starts. time, I think it’s also good for rolled around in September. program and his decision not to football program. It was a tough Hampering the quarterback those guys and really the rest of Clearly, there were plenty of retain offensive coordinator Bush program and they’re always in the decision is Washington’s lack of the guys that I’m coming in with tasks on Donovan’s to-do list Hamdan. hunt and it’s a great city,” he said. spring practice. Washington was a clean slate. And I’m going to before COVID-19 altered every- Donovan was last an offensive “So for me, that’s not a hard sell.” one of the few Power Five pro- coach them hard, and teach them thing. coordinator in college in 2015 at Next came the hard part. For grams that had not started spring and they’re gonna battle it out.” Storm’s top pick will not Some county high schools arrive in Seattle until ’21 By JAYDA EVANS will award spring letters The Seattle Times SEATTLE STORM DRAFT PICKS By VINCE RICHARDSON SEATTLE — Delayed n 11. Kitija Laksa, F, @Sports_SVH draft arrivals are a theme TTT Riga (Latvia) for the Storm. n 19. Joyner Holmes, F, Texas At least two Skagit County high The team selected Lat- n 31. Haley Gorecki, schools have plans to award letters vian shooting guard Kitija G, Duke to athletes who have lost their spring Laksa with their first- seasons because of the COVID-19 round pick in the WNBA pandemic. draft Friday, but she won’t national TV and reflected Burlington-Edison will award let- join the team until 2021. on when she played ters to all seniors, while La Conner For the 2019 draft, Seattle against Laksa’s national will give letters to those who over selected Australian center team. the next six weeks complete training Ezi Mag- “Quick release, great plans from their coaches. begor, shooter, she can space the “Those workouts will focus on the who’s floor. It fits our style per- physical aspects and will also stress expected fectly,” Bird said. “She had nutrition and working through this to be an injury, but she gave us situation,” La Conner Athletic Direc- available a dose when we played tor Kathy Herrera said. “Working this sea- Latvia against the USA out to increase strength, and work- son. team so I know she’s legit. ing out to stay mentally sharp.” “In So welcome to Seattle.” Concrete has no plans for award- this Laksa New York selected ing letters to spring athletes, while unique Oregon guard Sabrina Sedro-Woolley is taking a look year, with us not knowing Ionescu with the No. 1 at how it might adjust its normal how it’s going to play out, overall pick. Teammate requirements for earning letters. it makes complete sense Satou Sabally, a forward, “Those requirements, well, they to target a year and we went No. 2 overall to Dal- have all changed,” Sedro-Woolley can evolve that way with las, making it the third Athletic Director Jerry Gardner said. it,” said Storm coach Dan time in WNBA draft “We aren’t sure what they look like Hughes of the WNBA history the top two picks now. I am in discussions with all season being suspended were from the same col- my head coaches and we will have indefinitely due to the lege program. A third criteria in place for the kids. We just novel coronavirus pan- teammate, forward Ruth want to make sure and do it right.” demic. Hebard, was the No. 8 In La Conner, Herrera said the Laksa didn’t wait pick to the Chicago Sky plan is to have the coaches contact to express enthusiasm while Oregon State guard their athletes and provide workouts Herrera said the La Conner back to his younger days. about joining the Storm, Mikayla Pivec — a Seattle specific to their sports. coaches have come up with great “It’s like I’m a kid again,” he said however. She was awake Times Player of the Year Having a connection between ideas, including making videos of of putting together drills. “You can nearly 21 hours to hear from Lynnwood High — coaches and athletes is as important themselves doing drills, and for the throw a tennis ball off the roof and her named called at 5 a.m. was drafted by the Atlanta as the workouts themselves, said golfers, working on some trick shots catch it. Heck, if you can hit a rock where she’s quarantined Dream in the third round. Herrera. that can be done at home. with a stick, you can hit a baseball.” in Latvia. WNBA training camp “We want to show we care and Tennis balls will play a part in At the end of the school year, The 23-year-old played was due to open April 26 have compassion about their situa- baseball coach Jeremiah LeSourd’s Herrera will connect with her for her national team with the season opener tions, to let them know they haven’t spring workout program. coaches, and those athletes who fully and professionally for scheduled for May 15. been forgotten about,” she said. “It’s He plans to get a couple boxes of participated in the workouts will be TTT Riga this past sea- “Our goal is to have a going to be good for everyone’s tennis balls, then leave some balls in considered for letters. son after three years for season when it is medical- mental well-being and will keep the front yards of his players. “This puts some light at the end South Florida where she ly advisable and feasible,” our athletes active. We want those “You can do a lot by yourself with of the tunnel,” she said. “It gets the suffered a season-ending WNBA Commissioner players coming back in the fall to be a tennis ball,” LeSourd said. kids and the coaches involved, and knee injury in 2018. Cathy Engelbert said Fri- ready mentally and physically.” The situation is bringing him to celebrate all their hard work.” Her combined averages day on a conference call. are 17.8 points and 3.2 The WNBA’s con- rebounds per game. siderations range from “I don’t know if I playing in arenas without should tell you about my fans and condensing the excitement because it’s 36-game schedule for the SPORTS BRIEFLY off the top,” said Laksa, 12 teams to shifting the who met Storm guard season to the fall. Sue Bird her freshman One advantage is the MLS extends moratorium to June 8; shortened season may affect player salaries season at USF. “I think built-in hiatus for the I will be ahead of many Tokyo Olympic Games no Skagit Valley Herald percentage could change half a million people were starting with their May 15 different rookies that will longer being needed since news services based on games played expected for the three days. checks. be in the league because I that event was moved and games played without In its place will be a made- n SAN DIEGO — played on different types to 2021 because of the Major League Soccer is fans in attendance.