This Week in Sports

Not all Atlantic Coast Conference basketball coaches think Pitt is not the place to be.

On… Not all Atlantic Coast Conference basketball coaches think Pitt is not the place to be.

On May 1, Pitt announced the hiring of Agnus Berenato as the new women?s basketball head coach, filling the position left vacant when Traci Waites was fired in March.

?I am so excited for the opportunity that I am getting at the University of Pittsburgh,? Berenato said. ?It is incredible for both myself and my family and I am anxious because of the potential that this job has.?

?For too long, we have discussed only the wonderful possibilities our women?s basketball program holds at the University of Pittsburgh,? interim athletic director Marc Boehm said. ?In Agnus Berenato, we have found the right person to unlock those possibilities.?

Berenato comes to Pitt from Georgia Tech, an ACC school, where she was the head coach of the Yellow Jackets for the past 15 seasons. While at Georgia Tech, she set a record for wins by a women?s basketball coach, compiling a 223-209 record.

?We believe the University of Pittsburgh women?s basketball program has unlimited potential, and in Agnus Berenato we have found the perfect person to make that potential a reality,? Chancellor Mark Nordenberg said. ?Certainly, with well over 200 career victories, her ability as a coach is obvious.?

Last season, Berenato led Georgia Tech to a 20-11 record and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. The Yellow Jackets started off the year by upsetting Georgia, then ranked 22nd, on the way to a school record of 10 straight wins.

Georgia Tech advanced to the semifinals of the ACC Tournament before falling to eventual champion Duke.

Berenato has led Georgia Tech to the postseason in each of the last four years and, in 1992, she led the Yellow Jackets to the National Women?s Invitational Tournament championship, the program?s first ever title.

?This is the beginning of a new life for me and I am very excited,? Berenato said. ?I believe it was meant for me to be here as the head coach for Pittsburgh.?

Three Pitt players selected in NFL draft

Like last year, three Pitt players have been selected in the National Football League draft.

And just like last year, there was some surprise.

However, this year, the surprise was not how far the former Panthers slid in the draft, but that they got drafted at all.

Middle linebacker Gerald Hayes, who some scouts believed to be the best player in the draft, at his position, was selected in the third round by the Arizona Cardinals.

Torrie Cox and Bryan Anderson, whom scouts were unsure of because both players are believed to lack the size and speed needed at the next level, had to wait until the later rounds to hear their names called.

Cox was selected by Tampa Bay in the sixth round, while Anderson was picked up by the Chicago Bears in the seventh round.

Hayes was selected as a second-team All-American in 2002 and finished his career ranked fourth all-time at Pitt with 402 tackles. Hayes is also the first Pitt linebacker to be named All-Big East three times.

Cox, a starter at cornerback the last two seasons and a standout on special teams, is the first Pitt player to be drafted by the Buccaneers since Hugh Green in 1981.

While he saw plenty of action in the Panthers? secondary, Cox?s best chance at making the team appears to be as a special teams player. Cox was Pitt?s special teams Most Valuable Player and special teams captain the last three seasons and ranked among the nation?s best with a 20.3 yard kickoff return average last season.

A four-year starter at right guard, Anderson is the second Pitt player drafted by the Bears in the past two years. Chicago selected Bryan Knight, who spent last season as a reserve linebacker, in the 2002 draft.

Last season, Anderson was named Pitt?s Most Valuable Offensive Lineman and started 47 of 48 possible games. He never missed a game during his career at Pitt.

Harriott named to Nagurski watch list

Claude Harriott was named to the 2003 Bronco Nagurski Trophy watch list on Friday.

Harriott was named to the 36-player list after turning in an exceptional 2002 season ?he ranked among the nation?s top 25 in forced fumbles (second) and tackles for loss (23rd).

The senior defensive end also lead the Panthers with 9 1/2 sacks, was named to the All-Big East first team and won the Insight Bowl?s Defensive Most Valuable Player award.

Awarded annually to college football?s best defensive player, the trophy is named after the Hall of Famer who starred for the University of Minnesota and the Chicago Bears.

Harriott is one of 17 returning starters for a team that finished 9-4 and ended the year ranked No. 18 in the country.

So far this year, Pitt is No. 9 in CBS Sportsline?s post-spring practice poll and is ranked No. 12 by CNN/Sports Illustrated. The Panthers are also among The Sporting News? 13 favorites to play for the national championship in the 2004 Sugar Bowl.