HIGH SCHOOLS

MacPhee hired to coach Greater Portland Christian

Len MacPhee, the former men’s and women’s basketball coach at UMaine-Farmington, is coming out of retirement to coach the boys’ basketball team at Greater Portland Christian.

MacPhee last coached six years ago at Rangeley, where he was the boys’ basketball coach. Before that, he spent 36 years at UMF. He coached men’s basketball for 24 years, women’s basketball for seven years, and also served as athletic director for seven years.

MacPhee, who played baseball and basketball at the University of Maine, was inducted into the UMF Hall of Fame in 2002.

HOCKEY

NHL: The NHL harshly penalized the New Jersey Devils for signing Ilya Kovalchuk to a contract that circumvented the league’s salary cap.

Commissioner Gary Bettman fined the Devils $3 million and took away two draft picks, including a first rounder of the Devils’ choice sometime in the next four years.

The Devils also will lose a third-round draft pick next year.

Lou Lamoriello, the Devils’ president and chief executive, issued a statement disagreeing with Bettman’s decision, insisting the team had done nothing wrong in signing Kovalchuk.

The NHL had the right to discipline the Devils after arbitrator Richard Bloch ruled on Aug. 9 that Kovalchuk’s free-agent contract constituted a circumvention of the NHL/NHLPA collective bargaining agreement.

• The Atlanta Thrashers signed unrestricted free-agent forward Nigel Dawes, who had 32 points for the Calgary Flames last season.

BASKETBALL

NBA: The Chicago Bulls hired former Villanova star Ed Pinckney as an assistant coach.

Pinckney is best remembered for leading Villanova to an upset over Georgetown in the 1985 NCAA championship game before playing 12 seasons in the NBA, including sixth with the Celtics.

He joins new coach Tom Thibodeau’s staff in Chicago after spending last season as a TV analyst for the Philadelphia 76ers. He previously served as an assistant with the Minnesota Timberwolves from 2007-09 after four years on the coaching staff at Villanova.

• The Golden State Warriors signed free-agent forward Louis Amundson to a two-year contract, with the second year being a player option. Amundson averaged career bests of 4.7 points and 4.4 rebounds in 14.8 minutes per game for Phoenix last season.

BASEBALL

EASTERN LEAGUE: The Portland Sea Dogs promoted Geoff Iacuessa to executive vice president and general manager from his current position as assistant general manager for sales and promotions.

Charlie Eshbach, who has held the titles of president and general manager since the club’s inception, will continue to serve as president.

Additionally, Bill Burke has been named chairman, replacing his father, Dan, and Sally Burke McNamara was named the team’s treasurer.

TENNIS

WILLIAMS INJURY: Serena Williams is back practicing after foot surgery that kept her out of the U.S. Open.

The world’s top-ranked women’s player told The Associated Press that she hasn’t decided when she’ll return to competition, but she still plans to play for the United States in the Fed Cup final against Italy in November.

Williams cut her right foot on broken glass at a restaurant after winning Wimbledon.

CYCLING

SPANISH VUELTA: Mikel Nieve of Spain won the 16th stage and Joaquin Rodriguez regained the overall lead.

Nieve secured his first career stage win by finishing the grueling 112.7-mile ride into Cotobello, Spain, in 4 hours, 51 minutes, 59 seconds.

Rodriguez was fourth but took the leader’s red jersey for the second time, moving 33 seconds ahead of overnight leader Vincenzo Nibali.