As we learned earlier this week, UConn Huskies men’s basketball coach Kevin Ollie finalized his five-year deal with the school on Thursday.

Here’s the release from UConn including his contract:

STORRS, Conn. – The University of Connecticut and head men’s basketball coach Kevin Ollie have agreed to a new five year contract that will run through May 31, 2019. Ollie became the 18th men’s basketball coach at UConn in September, 2012.

Ollie led the Huskies to a 20-10 season in 2012-13, the first UConn coach to ever win 20 games in his initial season. This past year, Ollie guided the Huskies to a 24-7 regular-season mark, including 12-6 in the American Athletic Conference.

After reaching the championship game of the first American Tournament, UConn earned a No. 7 seed in the East Region of the NCAA Tournament. The Huskies defeated Saint Joseph’s, Villanova, Iowa State, Michigan State, Florida and Kentucky to capture their fourth National Championship in the last 16 years.

“I’m very pleased that we were able to agree to a new contract and that we’ll be able to continue to build upon the success we’ve had,” Ollie said. “It’s a humbling experience to be around the UConn fans and the UConn family and to know that I am their basketball coach for the foreseeable future. I’m very proud of that. UConn is a place that I love and as I’ve told everyone throughout the season and through all the recent speculation, this is where my heart is. This is where I wanted to be.

“I’m very thankful to President Herbst and Warde Manuel for showing confidence in me and my coaching staff. It’s the student-athletes who have sacrificed to uphold the standards we have set at UConn and done such a terrific job. I’m happy and excited to be able to continue to invest in their basketball careers and their lives.”

“Kevin Ollie is the right person to lead our men’s basketball team into the future,” said UConn President Susan Herbst. “Kevin has done a remarkable job as our head coach over the past two years and also during his time as a UConn student-athlete and assistant coach. He is a person of utmost character and leadership and embodies everything we stand for here at the University of Connecticut.”

“I am very happy that Kevin Ollie will continue to direct our men’s basketball program,” said UConn Director of Athletics Warde Manuel. “It is a great day for the University of Connecticut and for Kevin. Kevin has accomplished a great deal during his first two seasons as our head coach both on and off the court and I am very excited about the future of our program.”

Ollie will receive a base salary of $400,000 on an annual basis. He will also receive annual payment for public relations, consulting and media appearances. In the 2014-15 academic year, this figure will be $2,400,000 for total compensation of $2,800,000. The public relations, consulting and media appearance payments will increase by $100,000 during each year of the contract. These combined figures will then total $2,900,000 for 2015-16, $3,000,000 for 2016-17, $3,100,000 for 2017-18 and $3,200,000 in 2018-19.

Ollie is also eligible for additional compensation for services and performance in the post-season. He will receive one month of base salary for winning a conference regular-season championship; one month of base salary for winning a conference post-season championship; one month of base salary for participation in the NCAA tournament; one month of base salary for participation in the NCAA Sweet 16; one month of base salary for participation in the NCAA Final Eight; one month of base salary for participation in the NCAA Final Four; and three months of base salary for winning the NCAA National Championship. Ollie will also receive one-half month base salary for winning a conference coach of the year and/or national coach of the year.

Ollie will receive a $5,000 payment following any academic semesters when the team grade point average is 2.8 or better and a $10,000 payment for an annual APR score of 930 or better.

University of Connecticut Contract Summary, Kevin Ollie, Head Men’s Basketball Coach

CONTRACT PERIOD: The term of the contract is June 1, 2014 through May 31, 2019.

SALARY/SPEAKING AND MEDIA APPEARANCES: The contract calls for an annual base salary, as well as, annual payments for institutional speaking and media appearances.

The following is a year-by-year summary of those payments:

NOTE: No General Fund (state tax dollars) or tuition monies were used to provide any of the resources for this contract. The Division of Athletics at the University of Connecticut is an Auxiliary Service Fund entity and the sources of revenue include: gate receipts, private fundraising, corporate partnerships, television/radio rights, conference revenues and NCAA revenues.

AUTOMOBILE ALLOWANCE: The Coach will receive an annual car allowance in the amount of $15,000 to be paid on a bi-weekly basis.

SUMMER CAMPS/CLINICS: The Coach may organize and direct basketball camps or clinics utilizing University dormitories, dining halls, athletics facilities and other campus facilities, at the rates and fees published by the University’s Conference Services Office. Coach Ollie may also organize and direct basketball camps or clinics located off the University’s campus. All camps and clinics run by the Coach shall be owned and operated by the Coach.

ENDORSEMENT CONTRACTS: Any consulting, endorsement or outside income activity performed by the Coach shall be consistent with the University consulting policy. Personal endorsement agreement must be consistent with the University’s agreement with IMG and compliant with all University policies and all Connecticut state statutes.

TICKETS: The University will provide the Coach with twenty (20) tickets for personal use and purchase privileges for up to ten (10) additional tickets for all home, away, conference tournament and post-season men’s basketball events while serving as Head Men’s Basketball Coach. The University will provide the Coach with twenty (20) tickets in a suite and five (5) parking passes for personal use for all home football games at Rentschler Field while serving as Head Men’s Basketball Coach. The Coach will be responsible for all costs associated with food and beverage service in the suite and no such costs shall be regarded as subject to reimbursement. Also, the Coach will be entitled to receive four (4) tickets for all other UConn home athletic events.

COUNTRY CLUB: The University shall pay the current fee categories for an annual family membership at a country club approved by the athletic director.

COMPENSATION FOR SERVICES AND PERFORMANCE: The Coach will receive one month of base salary for winning a conference regular season championship; one month of base salary for winning a conference post-season tournament championship; one month of base salary for participation in the NCAA tournament; one month of base salary for participation in the NCAA Sweet 16; one month of base salary for participation in the NCAA Elite Eight; one month of base salary for participation the NCAA Final Four; three month of base salary for winning the NCAA national championship; one-half month of base salary for winning a conference and/or national coach of the year award; a $5,000 payment for each academic semester with a team grade point average of 2.8 or above; a $10,000 payment for each year with an APR score of 930 or above.

BUYOUT: If the Coach accepts a position as a Head Coach of men’s basketball at an NCAA Division I institution, the following will be due to the University from the Coach: $5,000,000 in 2014-15; $4,000,000 in 2015-16; $3,000,000 in 2016-17; $2,000,000 in 2017-18 and 2018-19. If the Coach accepts a position as a Head Coach or Assistant Coach in the NBA, the following will be due to the University from the Coach: $5,000,000 in 2014-15; $4,000,000 in 2015-16; $1,000,000 in 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19.

photo credit: getty image

After falling yet again last night, the Boston Red Sox look to salvage the series finale of a three-game set with the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park this afternoon.

First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. The game will be broadcast on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Blue Jays television market, you can catch the game on Rogers SportsNet. And if you can’t catch the game on television, you can always listen on the 2014 Red Sox Radio Network.

Jon Lester looks to end the misery for the Red Sox in his 10th start of 2014. In his previous nine starts, Lester is 4-5 with a 2.67 ERA. He took the loss against the Jays back on April 27 when he allowed four runs in seven innings of work. He’s made 29 career starts against them and is 15-8 with a 3.61 ERA. 12 of those starts have come at the Fens where he is 8-2 with a 3.82 ERA.

Mark Buehrle makes his 10th start of 2014 this afternoon. In his previous nine starts, he is 7-1 with a 2.11 ERA. His lone loss of the 2014 campaign came against the Red Sox on April 25 when he allowed seven runs (six earned) in 5.1 innings of work. He’s made 25 appearances (24 starts) against the local nine and is 8-10 with a 4.55 ERA. 10 of those starts have come at the Fens where he is 4-3 with a 4.78 ERA.

24-22		20-24
1. Jose Reyes	SS	1. Dustin Pedroia	2B
2. Melky Cabrera	LF	2. Shane Victorino	RF
3. Jose Bautista	RF	3. David Ortiz	DH
4. Edwin Encarnacion	1B	4. Jonny Gomes	LF
5. Brett Lawrie	3B	5. A.J. Pierzynski	C
6. Dioner Navarro	C	6. Xander Bogaerts	SS
7. Steve Tolleson	2B	7. Mike Carp	1B
8. Kevin Pillar	DH	8. Brock Holt	3B
9. Anthony Gose	CF	9. Jackie Bradley, Jr.	CF
Mark Buehrle	SP	Jon Lester	SP

NOTES:

Here is how the hitters have fared against the starting pitchers during the regular season over their careers.

More links (bolded) will be added if/when they become available so please check back often.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

Reshaping Clay: Red Sox focused on fixing Buchholz [clubhouse insider]

Slumping Sizemore goes from feel good to real bad [csn new england]

Cherington: Sox ‘trying to figure out’ what’s wrong with Buchholz [csn new england]

Sox try to end skid, homestand futility [espn boston]

Bogaerts’ Bat has Been the Shining Light in Dark Week for the Red Sox [extra bases]

Ben Cherington on D&C: ‘We’re just trying to make the team better’ [full count]

Xander Bogaerts turns page on tough Tuesday with strong offensive output [full count]

Red Sox having “ongoing discussion” about struggles of Grady Sizemore [providence journal]

Lester looking to halt skid against Blue Jays [red sox]

Why Clay Buchholz’s struggles aren’t as shocking as you might think [alex speier – weei]

photo credits: getty images, getty images

Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball teams as well as the other sports the student-athletes engage in. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a Daily basis.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

UConn Football links

Women’s Football 101 Clinic Scheduled For June 25 [sox & dawgs]

UConn ranked No. 95, Huskies will be relying on defense to help win games [orlando sentinel]

UConn Women’s Basketball links

Natalie Butler Is Officially a Member of UConn Women’s Basketball Team [sox & dawgs]

UConn announces addition of Butler [carl adamec – sny uconn]

Doug Bruno On What He Told Geno About Natalie Butler [john altavilla – hartford courant]

UConn Makes Butler’s Transfer Official [rich elliott – ct post]

UConn Men’s Basketball links

Ollie, Rizzotti Pitching In For ‘Miracle League’ [dom amore – hartford courant]

Jim Calhoun’s UConn Alumni Game Scheduled for Aug. 8 [dom amore – hartford courant]

Source: Ollie, UConn deal could happen ‘in the next day or two’ [ct post]

Kevin Ollie’s new contract won’t be funded by taxpayers [new haven register]

Other UConn related links

M. Soccer. Former Husky Tony Cascio Looks For Fresh Start With Houston Dynamo [uconn huskies]

Baseball. Bobby Melley Named D1 New England Player Of The Year, Davey and Marzi All-New England [uconn huskies]

Baseball. UConn Tripped Up By UCF, 7-1, In Game One Of Pool Play [uconn huskies]

W. Ice Hockey. Women’s Hockey Tabs MacDonnell 2014-15 Captain, Buress and Hewes Assistants [uconn huskies]

STORRS, Conn. – The University of Connecticut football program will hold a “Women’s Football 101 Clinic” on Wednesday, June 25 in the Burton Family Football Complex and the Mark R. Shenkman Training Center in Storrs.

The event will give women a chance to learn everything from the basic fundamentals of the game to finer intricacies in a fun-filled night. It is a unique opportunity for women to receive instruction right from the Husky coaching staff in UConn’s modern facilities.

The clinic will begin at 5:30 p.m. with registration and a social hour, including a cash bar. Participants will take to the field at 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. for lights drills and a real football experience with the UConn coaching staff and players.

The cost for registration is $40, which includes a t-shirt, food and a souvenir item.

All participants are asked to wear athletic clothing and footwear and water will be provided during the clinic.

For more information and to register, CLICK HERE.

STORRS, Conn. – Natalie Butler, who was selected as the 2013-14 Big East Rookie of the Year while competing at Georgetown University, has signed a financial aid agreement to complete her transfer to the University of Connecticut.

Due to NCAA transfer rules, Butler will be forced to sit out the 2014-15 season and she will have three years of eligibility beginning with the 2015-16 campaign.

“I think Natalie is one of the most unique players in the game today,” head coach Geno Auriemma said.  “There just aren’t many 6-5 players in the country and we just had a great one for the last four years, so we know.  Natalie has the potential to be just as good and we are very excited for her to get on campus.”

photo credit: georgetown sports information

After losing for the fifth straight game last night, the Boston Red Sox look to right the ship tonight in the middle game of a three-game set with the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. The game will be broadcast on NESN in the Red Sox television market. If you live in the Blue Jays television market, you can catch the game on Rogers SportsNet. And if you can’t catch the game on television, you can always listen on the 2014 Red Sox Radio Network.

Clay Buchholz steps to the bump for the ninth time in 2014. In his previous eight starts, Buchholz is 2-3 with a 6.17 ERA. He got the win against the Jays on April 27 when he allowed three runs over a season-high seven innings of work. He’s made 19 career appearances (18 starts) against them and is 10-5 with a 2.52 ERA. Eight of those appearances (seven starts) have come at the Fens where he is 2-3 with a 3.75 ERA.

Drew Hutchison hits the hill for the 10th time in 2014. In his previous nine starts, Hutchison is 2-2 with a 3.64 ERA. His lone career start against the Red Sox came in 2012 when he picked up the win after allowing one run in seven innings of work. This will be his first career start at the Fens.

24-22		20-24
1. Jose Reyes	SS	1. Grady Sizemore	CF
2. Melky Cabrera	LF	2. Dustin Pedroia	2B
3. Jose Bautista	RF	3. David Ortiz	DH
4. Adam Lind	DH	4. Jonny Gomes	LF
5. Edwin Encarnacion	1B	5. A.J. Pierzynski	C
6. Juan Francisco	3B	6. Shane Victorino	RF
7. Brett Lawrie	2B	7. Mike Carp	1B
8. Dioner Navarro	C	8. Xander Bogaerts	SS
9. Anthony Gose	CF	9. Brock Holt	3B
Drew Hutchison	SP	Clay Buchholz	SP

NOTES:

The Red Sox made the Stephen Drew signing official today. They placed Felix Doubront on 15-day DL with a left shoulder strain to make room for Drew on the 25-man roster.

Here is how the hitters have fared against the starting pitchers during the regular season over their careers.

More links (bolded) will be added if/when they become available so please check back often.

To open the links up in a new tab or window, use Control+click

Red Sox Make Drew Signing Official; Doubront To DL [sox & dawgs]

Felix Doubront strains shoulder after bumping into car door [clubhouse insider]

Red Sox shake up lineup; no plans for Shane Victorino to return to switch-hitting [clubhouse insider]

Futures of Bogaerts, Middlebrooks not how Sox Drew it up [csn new england]

Notes: Doubront (shoulder) placed on 15-day DL [csn new england]

Ben Cherington: Motivations Align With Stephen Drew Signing [extra bases]

Red Sox’ Felix Doubront Hurt Shoulder by Bumping Into Car Door. Yes, Really [extra  bases]

Brock Holt makes compelling case to stay in big leagues [full count]

Buster Olney on M&M: Stephen Drew ‘an upgrade’ for Red Sox [full count]

Red Sox GM Ben Cherington explains re-signing Stephen Drew and team’s outlook for Xander Bogaerts, Will Middlebrooks [full count]

John Farrell on D&H: Red Sox still view Xander Bogaerts as shortstop [full count]

Ben Cherington: Stephen Drew Signing About Improving Red Sox Right Now [nesn]

Looking to buck trend, Sox turn to Buchholz [red sox]

Pedro encourages fans to give Manny warm welcome [red sox]

Club reps for 2014 First-Year Player Draft named [red sox]

Short story takes unhappy twist for Xander Bogaerts [alex speier – weei]

Winners and Losers in the (Overdue and Welcome) Return of Stephen Drew to the Red Sox [touching all the bases]

photo credits: getty images, getty images

As we learned yesterday, the Boston Red Sox and Stephen Drew agreed on a one-year deal worth $14.1 million of which Drew will receive a prorated amount of about $10 million. Today, they made it official.

Here’s the release:

BOSTON, MA-The Boston Red Sox today agreed with shortstop Stephen Drew on a one-year contract through the 2014 season. Drew takes the 25-man roster spot of left-handed pitcher Felix Doubront, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list today with a left shoulder strain. Executive Vice President/General Manager Ben Cherington made the announcement.

An eight-year major league veteran, Drew played for Boston in 2013, and helped the Red Sox to the World Series Championship. The left-handed batter played in 124 games, all at shortstop, during the regular season and hit .253 (112-for-442) with 29 doubles, eight triples, 13 home runs, 67 RBI, 57 runs scored, and 54 walks.

Drew slugged .443 in 2013, the best single-season mark by a primary Red Sox shortstop since Nomar Garciaparra slugged .524 in 2003 (min. 425 PA). His .435 career slugging percentage is fourth best among primary shortstops over the last eight seasons (min. 2,500 PA) behind only Troy Tulowitzki (.520), Hanley Ramirez (.504), and Jose Reyes (.450).

The native of Hahira, GA tied a single-season career high with 67 RBI in 2013 (also 2008), second among American League shortstops (Baltimore’s J.J. Hardy, 76). He also matched career marks with 16 go-ahead RBI and 10 game-winning RBI, both of which topped the AL as a shortstop, and ranked among AL leaders at the position in walks (T-2^nd) and home runs (T-3^rd).

Against right-handed pitching last year, Drew posted career bests in slugging (.498) and OPS (.876), with nine of his 13 homers coming against righties. Among primary shortstops, he has the third best slugging percentage (.463) and OPS (.813) against righties since the start of 2008, with only Tulowitzki (.528 SLG, .895 OPS) and Ramirez (.499 SLG, .872 OPS) ahead of him.

He hit .306 with a .376 on-base percentage, .571 slugging percentage, and .946 OPS with two outs last year, including a team-best 1.022 OPS with two outs and runners in scoring position.

Drew finished second among 2013 AL qualifiers at shortstop with a .984 fielding percentage, and his eight errors were his fewest in his five seasons in which he played at least 100 games.

All 916 of his career appearances in the field have come at shortstop and his .979 fielding percentage is fifth-best among active players with at least 900 games at the position.

In 53 games from last July 27 through the end of the 2013 regular season, he hit .292 and led primary major league shortstops in slugging (.513) and OPS (.879). He hit .283 with 32 extra-base hits (19 doubles, 5 triples, 8 home runs) over his last 68 regular season games beginning on June 18.

Drew started all 16 of Boston’s postseason games en route to the 2013 World Series title. In the World Series clinching Game Six, he became the second Red Sox shortstop ever to hit a home run in the Fall Classic, along with Rico Petrocelli in 1967.

Selected by Arizona in first round of the 2004 June Draft (15^th overall), he played parts of seven seasons with the Diamondbacks (2006-12) and Athletics (2012) before joining the Red Sox for the 2013 season. In 936 career regular season games, he has a .264 average, 210 doubles, 60 triples, 90 home runs, 416 RBI, 471 runs scored, 347 walks, and 40 stolen bases. He is a lifetime .275 hitter against right-handed pitching.

His 60 career triples rank fifth in the majors since the start of 2006. Only Jose Reyes (89), Curtis Granderson (76), Carl Crawford (69), and Shane Victorino (68) have more. He has finished among the top five players in triples in the American or National League in four of the last six seasons.

Doubront, 26, took the loss last night in a start against the Toronto Blue Jays. He was removed from the game in the fifth inning after experiencing left shoulder fatigue. In nine starts this season, the left-hander has gone 2-4 with a 5.12 ERA (26 ER/45.2 IP) and 31 strikeouts. Signed by Boston as an international free agent in 2004, Doubront owns a 26-22 record with a 4.67 ERA and 366 strikeouts in 404.1 career innings over 90 major league games (68 starts) from 2010-14.

photo credit: getty images