Todd Richards, 42, who coached the Penguins' American Hockey League minor league club at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for two years before spending one year as an assistant coach with the San Jose Sharks, was named yesterday as the new coach of the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild.

The Minnesota native becomes the franchise's second coach and promised that the team will play a more exciting, up-tempo style than it did under Jacques Lemaire, a firm believer in a trapping, defensive system.

"As a coach it's tough to implement the defensive style," said Richards. "I shouldn't say it's tough, but it's tedious. ... The players have a great foundation to play defensive hockey, and that's something that we can't lose. There always has to be that responsibility."

General manager Chuck Fletcher, who was the Penguins' assistant general manager until last month, was not deterred by a resume that included only one season on an NHL bench.

"I truly believe that talent is the most important thing. ... I think your skill set and overall talent takes precedence over experience," Fletcher said.

Richards left the Penguins' organization last summer to join San Jose, and his replacement at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Dan Bylsma, ultimately replaced Michel Therrien as the Penguins' coach and led them to the Stanley Cup.

For the first time in West Virginia racing history, a Kentucky Derby winner will compete in the West Virginia Derby Aug. 1. Mine That Bird will compete for the $750,000 purse at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort. Calvin Borel, who also rode Rachel Alexandra to her victory in the Preakness last month, is scheduled to ride Mine That Bird in the West Virginia Derby.

French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova lost in the first round of the grass-court tournament at Eastbourne, England, falling, 6-0, 6-3, to Aleksandra Wozniack of Canada. Anna Chakvetadze defeated third-seeded Jelena Jankovic, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-2; Amelie Mauresmo stopped No. 4 Vera Zvonareva, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3, and Frank Dancevic beat top-seeded Igor Andreev, 7-6 (6), 6-2, on the men's side in a day full of upsets in the key tuneup for Wimbledon.

• Benjamin Becker celebrated his 28th birthday by upsetting top-seeded Fernando Verdasco, 7-5, 7-6 (4), to reach the Ordina Open quarterfinals at Den Bosch, Netherlands. On the women's side, top-seeded Dinara Safina defeated , 6-0 6-3 to advance to the second round.

• Top-ranked Rafael Nadal might play at a grass-court exhibition tournament in England Friday to prepare for Wimbledon. Nadal won at Wimbledon last year, but lost in the fourth round of French Open before pulling out of the Queen's Club tournament last week to rest his injured knees.

Longtime Clemson men's coach Trevor Adair has resigned, more than two months after his arrest on charges of attacking his teenage daughters. Adair, 48, was charged with two counts of assault and battery in April. He was released on $10,000 bond and placed on a leave of absence. Assistant coach Phil Hindson will serve as interim head coach this fall.

Rutgers star Epiphanny Prince is skipping her senior season to play professionally in Europe, the first American woman to do so. School officials said she has not signed with an agent or chosen a team and plans to enter the 2010 WNBA draft. Prince averaged more than 19 points last season as a junior and was a third-team All-American.

Olympic champion Tyler Hamilton, 38, received an eight-year ban from cycling, all but ending his drug-tainted career after he admitted to taking a steroid. It was his second doping violation.

• Alexandre Vinokourov has been banned from the Tour de France next month after being caught blood doping during the 2007 Tour.