Report finds that Stanford coach Taylor mistreated female staff members

STANFORD, Calif.>> Stanford football coach Troy Taylor mistreated female staff members and tried to have an NCAA compliance officer removed after she warned him of rules violations, according to documents obtained by ESPN from investigations into Taylor’s conduct.

ESPN said more than 20 current and former staffers cooperated with the two investigations that included complaints against Taylor for what are described as hostile and aggressive behavior, as well as personal attacks.

Both investigations determined that Taylor’s treatment of employees, particularly of women, was inconsistent with Stanford’s standards.

Taylor signed a warning letter on Feb. 14, 2024, following the first investigation acknowledging he could be fired if the conduct continued, according to the documents obtained by ESPN. Additional complaints were documented in a second investigation that ended July 24, but Taylor remains on the job.

Braves sign 9-time All-Star closer Kimbrel to minor league deal

ATLANTA>> Nine-time All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel is attempting to revive his career with the Atlanta Braves, his original team.

Kimbrel and catcher James McCann have agreed to minor league contracts, the team confirmed on Wednesday. Kimbrel will remain at the Braves spring training site when the season opens March 27, then will report to Triple-A Gwinnett.

Kimbrel, a 36-year-old right-hander, was released by the Baltimore Orioles on Sept. 24 with a 5.33 ERA and six blown saves in 29 chances.

Navy’s DeChellis retiring after 29 years as coach

ANNAPOLIS, Md.>> Navy men’s basketball coach Ed DeChellis is retiring after 29 years as a collegiate head coach.

DeChellis coached a school-record 426 games at Navy. The Midshipmen reached the championship game of the Patriot League Tournament this year before losing to American. DeChellis previously coached at Penn State and East Tennessee State. He was one of seven active head coaches to win at least 100 games at three different schools.

Tour de France is returning to the UK in 2027 with a start from Edinburgh

PARIS>> Britain will host the Grand Départ of both the Tour de France and the women’s version of the race in 2027, organizers said Wednesday.

It will be the 28th time that the Tour de France starts from a foreign country, and the first time since 2014 — when the Tour began in the Yorkshire region — that Britain hosts the start of cycling’s biggest race.

SWAC suspends 9 players, fines Jackson St. and Prairie View A&M $25,000

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.>> The Southwestern Athletic Conference on Wednesday suspended six baseball players from Jackson State and three from Prairie View A&M for engaging in an altercation after a weekend game.

The SWAC announced that both schools violated the league’s code of ethics/conduct by committing acts of unsportsmanlike conduct. The players were suspended four games and the schools were fined $25,000 each.

Prairie View won Saturday’s game 7-6 in 11 innings on Trenton Bush’s walk-off double. Jackson State players confronted the Panthers on the infield as they were celebrating. A video of the melee showed a Jackson State player heaving a bat into the stands.