Assistant Coach

Moves Baseball METS: Agreed with SS Chris Woodward, P Manny Aybar and P Joe Nelson on minor league contracts. Basketball BUCKS: Placed F Keith Van Horn on injured list. NETS: Signed F Jerome Moiso. Placed G Ron Mercer on injured list. NUGGETS: Fired coach Jeff Bzdelik. Named assistant coach Michael Cooper interim coach. Colleges CAL-IRVINE: Announced resignation of women's basketball coach Mark Adams. Named Molly Tuter interim women's basketball coach. HOOD: Named Barbara Leishman assistant coach cross country and club track teams.

Baseball Orioles -- Activated OF Sherman Obando from the 15-day DL. Optioned 1B Paul Carey to Triple-A Rochester.California Angels -- Placed P Julio Valera on the 15-day DL. Recalled P Mike Butcher from Triple-A Vancouver.Cincinnati Reds -- Promoted P Scott Robinson from Double-A Chattanooga to Triple-A Indianapolis. Promoted C Troy Buckley from Single-A Winston-Salem to Chattanooga.Florida Marlins -- Recalled OF Darrell Whitmore from Triple-A Edmonton.St. Louis Cardinals -- Placed OF Ray Lankford on the 15-day DL. Recalled OF Brian Jordan (Milford Mill)

The Major Indoor Soccer League-champion Blast is expected to name assistant coach Tim Wittman as its new coach at a news conference tomorrow morning. A source close to Wittman said the Baltimore native and former Blast standout was the obvious choice to replace former coach Bobby McAvan, who was let go early last week after he and the team owner could not agree on a new contract. Wittman, whom McAvan brought on as his assistant after taking over the team in December, played 10 seasons with the Blast of the old Major Indoor Soccer League and was part of the 1983-84 championship team.

Kevin Warne, who as an assistant coach helped guide Maryland to the national title game the past two seasons, was named Georgetown men's lacrosse head coach Tuesday. Warne takes over for Dave Urick, who went 223-99 in 23 seasons before retiring in July. The Hoyas have not reached the NCAA tournament since 2007. In two years with the Terps, Warne served as defensive coordinator and cemented his reputation as one of the top defensive coaches in the game. "I'm really excited to name Kevin Warne as head coach for our men's lacrosse program," Georgetown director of intercollegiate athletics Lee Reed said in a news release.

North Carroll announced the hiring of Rob Vaughn as boys basketball coach on Tuesday. Vaughn, a graduate of the school, previously coached the Panthers from 2003 to 2006, and he takes over the program from his brother, Chris, according to the school. Vaughn was an assistant coach at McDaniel College under Bob Flynn, and he currently teaches physical education at Shiloh Middle School in Carroll County.

BaseballAthletics: Named Mike Quade manager of Triple-A Edmonton.Diamondbacks: Agreed to $350,000, one-year contract with IF Andy Stankiewicz, who had been with Expos.Indians: Agreed to terms with P John Cummings, P John Ericks, P Jason Grimsley and P Jamie McAndrew on minor-league contracts.Mets: Agreed to minor-league contract with C Tim Spehr.Orioles: Double-A Bowie signed P Scott Conner, P Chas Curtis, P Gavin Osteen, P Rich Kelley and OF Duane Singleton.Padres: Agreed to $3.1 million, two-year contract with 2B Quilvio Veras.

BaseballCleveland Indians -- Optioned C Eddie Taubensee to Colorado Springs of the Pacific Coast League. Purchased the contract of IF Jose Escobar from Colorado Springs.BasketballNBA -- Fined Benoit Benjamin of the Seattle SuperSonics $1,500 for making an obscene gesture last week to the crowd at the Los Angeles Arena.CollegeCal-Irvine -- Named Rod Baker, assistant coach at Seton Hall, head basketball coach.Colorado State -- Named Stew Morrill, formerly of Montana, head basketball coach.Radford -- Named Ron Bradley, former Maryland assistant, head basketball coach.