Jan 11, 2019 3 min read

Steelers hire

Austin as DC

The Pittsburgh Steelers have hired Teryl Austin as a senior defensive assistant coach.

The team announced the move Friday, adding that Austin’s focus will be the secondary. Austin has coached in the NFL for the better part of two decades, including stops in Detroit and Cincinnati as defensive coordinator. Austin previously worked as a secondary coach for Seattle, Arizona and Baltimore.

The 53-year-old Austin grew up in Western Pennsylvania and played four seasons at defensive back for Pitt during the 1980s.

Pens’ DeSmith given

3-year extension

Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Casey DeSmith’s impressive play has earned him a three-year contract extension.

The deal begins in the 2019-2020 season and carries an average annual value of $1.25 million.

The 27-year-old DeSmith is 12-7-4 with a 2.47 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage for the Penguins. DeSmith began the season as the backup behind Matt Murray but played regularly during November and December while Murray dealt with a lower-body injury and inconsistent play.

General manager Jim Rutherford praised DeSmith for excelling under difficult circumstances. During a 12-start stretch from Nov. 21-Dec. 31, DeSmith went 8-3-1 to help the Penguins shake off a slow start to get back into the playoff picture in the crowded Metropolitan Division.

The signing also gives the Penguins stability in goal over the short term. Murray, a two-time Stanley Cup winner, is signed through the end of next season.

High school wrestling

Peters Township started fast with four consecutive pins, including three in less than one minute, to defeat North Hills, 48-24, in a non-section match.

Donovan McMillon (152) started the streak when he pinned Alec Apodaca in 4:39. Colton Jezioro, Jeff Markert and Brandon Matthews followed McMillon with three pins, the fastest being Markert’s in 13 seconds. Jezioro pinned his opponent in 29 seconds and Matthews bout last 38 seconds.

Bryce Wilkes (120) earned the only other pin for the Indians, defeating North Hills’ Scott Roth in 34 seconds.

WVU hires

line coach

New West Virginia coach Neal Brown has brought offensive line coach Matt Moore with him from Troy.

Brown announced Moore’s hiring Friday.

Moore was offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Troy for the past four years. He also served stints an an assistant at Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee and Texas Tech.

Some of West Virginia’s linemen from the past season won’t be around to work with Moore. Offensive tackle Yodny Cajuste has declared for the NFL draft, and center Matt Jones announced earlier Friday he is heading to Youngstown State as a graduate transfer.

Brown and defensive coordinator Vic Koenning were introduced at a news conference Thursday. Koenning had the same job for four seasons under Brown at Troy.