UMD says it can't afford contracts of women's hockey staff

Minnesota Duluth women's hockey coach Shannon Miller will not have her contract extended beyond the 2014-15 season because of financial considerations, according to a university statement released Monday. Two assistant coaches and a part-time director of operations also will not have their contracts renewed.

"She established a winning program, raised it to the highest level of competition and sustained a national championship tradition over the last 15 years," athletic director Josh Berlo said of Miller. "Today's decision about Shannon's contract was an immensely difficult and financially-driven decision. Unfortunately, UMD Athletics is not in a position to sustain the current salary levels of our women's hockey coaching staff. However, we remain committed to supporting the Bulldog women's hockey program."

Miller, who said she was "extremely shocked and saddened by this news, as is our entire staff and team," came to UMD in 1998 and established the program as a national powerhouse, winning five NCAA championships since the program's inception. In that time, she developed 28 current and former Olympians, as well as multiple national team coaches. Miller has a .713 winning percentage at UMD.

South Dakota State running back Zach Zenner of Eagan was chosen to the AFCA Football Championship Subdivision All-America Team for the third consecutive season Monday.

Zenner posted his third consecutive 2,000-yard season during his senior year, becoming the first player in FCS history to accomplish the feat. He finished the 2014 season with 2,019 yards on 337 carries and 22 touchdowns, while adding 28 receptions for 331 yards and four more scores.

South Dakota State wide receiver Jake Wieneke of Maple Grove was runner-up in voting for the Jerry Rice Award, given to the top freshman in the FCS. He had 73 catches for 1,404 yards and 16 touchdowns. Fordham running back Chase Edmonds won the award.

The Gophers tumbled another spot to No. 8 in the USCHO poll despite having the weekend off. Minnesota Duluth split with Michigan Tech and moved ahead of the Gophers at No. 7.

The Gophers are no longer the Big Ten's only ranked team; Penn State climbed into the poll at No. 20.

Most of college hockey will be off until after Christmas. The Gophers return in the new year for the Mariucci Classic, Jan. 2-3.

JASON GONZALEZ

The Gophers men's basketball team earned its second consecutive Big Ten player of the week award when center Mo Walker was honored, seven days after guard Andre Hollins was cited.

Walker compiled 33 points and 13 rebounds in two games, including a 22-point, seven-rebound, three-block performance in a 92-56 victory over North Dakota. Walker is averaging 11.2 points and 5.3 rebounds on the year, and he has blocked a team-high 18 shots. His 63.5 percent shooting ranks fifth in the league.

Gophers football had a slight increase in home attendance, a little more than 1,000 fans per game to 47,865. According to a report from CBSSports.com, this came in a year when attendance across the nation dropped to its lowest level since 2000. The Gophers' number was their highest since 2010, when they drew almost 50,000 per game in the second year of TCF Bank Stadium.

The national average for FBS schools was 43,483, according to CBS, the lowest since it was 42,631 in 2000.