Kidd, newly retired as a player, will coach Nets

The Brooklyn Nets hired Jason Kidd as their coach Wednesday, bringing the former star back to the franchise he led to its greatest NBA success.

Kidd retired this month after one season with the New York Knicks, his 19th in the NBA. The Nets decided to hire him to replace P.J. Carlesimo despite his lack of coaching experience.

“Jason Kidd has a long and legendary history with the Nets and with the city of New York,” Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov said in a statement. “He has the fire in the belly we need.... Welcome home, Jason.”

The move reunites Kidd with the franchise he led to consecutive NBA Finals in 2002-03, when it played in New Jersey. He spent 61/2 seasons with the Nets, averaging 14.6 points, 9.1 assists and 7.2 rebounds, and is their career leader in numerous statistical categories.

Terms of the deal that made Kidd the 18th coach in franchise history were not disclosed. The Nets will introduce Kidd on Thursday in a news conference at Barclays Center.

--

The Clippers rescheduled some interviews in their coaching search, said several NBA executives who were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

Former Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins was scheduled to interview with the Clippers’ front office Wednesday, but he was attending an NBA competition committee meeting in San Antonio, the executives said.

The Clippers and Hollins now are scheduled to meet Thursday and Friday in Los Angeles. Hollins will meet with the Denver Nuggets about their head coaching opening Saturday.

Former Portland Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan was supposed to meet with the Clippers on Thursday, but his meeting was canceled. The Clippers’ interest in McMillan was lukewarm, one executive said, and they might not interview him.

Indiana Pacers associate coach Brian Shaw was interviewed by the Clippers on Monday for the opening, and former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Byron Scott interviewed with the team in L.A. on Tuesday.

-- Broderick Turner

ETC.

NASCAR’s Leffler killed in accident

NASCAR driver Jason Leffler died after an accident Wednesday night at a dirt track event at Bridgeport (N.J.) Speedway.

The 37-year-old Leffler, a two-time winner in the Nationwide Series from Long Beach, was pronounced dead shortly after 9 p.m., New Jersey State Police said.

Leffler finished last Sunday at Pocono in his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start of the year.

--

Cesar Elizondo scored the go-ahead goal in extra time to lead the Carolina Railhawks to a 3-1 win over Chivas USA in the fourth round of the U.S. Open Cup at Cary, N.C.

Brian Ackley added an insurance goal for the NASL team with a header off a corner kick later in extra time.

Carolina, which beat the Galaxy in the third round May 29, will play at either Real Salt Lake or the USL Pro Charleston Battery in a quarterfinal June 26.

--

Theodore Whitmore resigned as Jamaica’s soccer coach amid a World Cup qualifying losing streak.

--

Top-seeded Roger Federer looked rusty but beat German wild card Cedrik-Marcel Stebe, 6-3, 6-3, to reach the quarterfinals of the Gerry Weber Open at Halle, Germany.

--

Four-time champion Lleyton Hewitt and Tomas Berdych advanced to the third round at Queen’s Club in London.

Hewitt defeated Grigor Dimitrov, 6-4, 6-3, and Berdych held off a strong second-set challenge from Dutchman Thiemo De Bakker to win, 6-1, 6-4.

--

Miller Barber, the unique-swinging golfer who made the most combined starts on the PGA and Champions tours, has died. He was 82. Obituary, AA5