Sports briefs

Scherr resigns from USOC Jim Scherr stepped down as chief executive officer of the U.S. Olympic Committee, a surprising resignation Thursday that comes with the federation facing financial difficulties and in the midst of trying to bring the 2016 Olympics to Chicago.

Scherr's last day will be March 31, and he will be replaced on an interim basis by Stephanie Streeter, a USOC board of directors member.

During a 25-minute teleconference with reporters, neither Streeter nor USOC chairman Larry Probst did anything to debunk the notion that Scherr was eased out after more than six years on the job. "It was mutually decided upon by both parties," Probst said. He and Streeter declined three times to say whose idea it was.

Scherr was not on the conference call and did not return messages left by The Associated Press seeking comment.

On Tuesday, Scherr announced the USOC would trim up to 15 percent of its staff as part of an effort to pare $7.1 million from the 2009 budget.

Coker to coach UTSA Former Miami (Fla.) coach Larry Coker has been chosen to coach the new Texas-San Antonio team that plans to play its first season in 2011. A person with knowledge of the hiring said Coker would be introduced at a news conference today.

Coker went 60-15 with the Hurricanes and led them to the 2001 national championship. He was fired in 2006 after the team went 6-6.

Federer, ranked No. 2 in the world in singles, will not play because of back problems.

On Saturday, the No. 1-ranked doubles team of Mike and Bob Bryan will face Wawrinka and Yves Allegro, dodging a matchup with the formidable Swiss gold-medal pairing. The Bryans are 15-1 in 2009, with three titles.

• Opening matches in Spain's Davis Cup series with Serbia were postponed because of wind damage to the specially constructed outdoor clay court in Benidorm, Spain, officials said.

• Israel's Andy Ram criticized the International Tennis Federation for allowing the Davis Cup series in Malmo, Sweden to be played in an empty stadium. Ram said the ITF should have put more pressure on Malmo officials, who decided to play the first-round matchup in a closed arena because of fears of demonstrations and protests against Israel.

"Now it's too late," Ram said. "Politics won over sports. That's sad."

Rugby: France rallied to beat the United States 26-17 to open the World Cup Sevens in a Pool B match in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Favorites South Africa, New Zealand and England won easily, but Canada upset Scotland 33-14 in Pool C.

Swimming: Dara Torres, 41, won her first competition since collecting three silver medals at the Beijing Olympics, winning the 50-meter freestyle at the Austin (Texas) Grand Prix in 24.91 seconds. Her goal was to break 25 seconds.

Soccer: Forward Landon Donovan will return to MLS' Los Angeles Galaxy on Tuesday, two days after the end of his loan to Germany's Bayern Munich. He played in only six matches.