Sports briefs

SOCCER

Kreis heading to NYC

Jason Kreis quit as coach of Real Salt Lake, three days after losing Major League Soccer's championship game, and will become coach of the expansion New York City FC team that starts play in 2015.

Kreis, who turns 41 on Dec. 29, played for Salt Lake from 2005-07, then became coach. He led the team to the 2009 MLS Cup championship, becoming the youngest coach to win the title.

He also coached the team to finals in the 2010-2011 CONCACAF Champions League, this year's U.S. Open Cup and Saturday's MLS final, where Salt Lake lost to Sporting Kansas City on penalty kicks after a 1-1 tie. Kreis was 90-71-58 with Salt Lake in MLS, reaching the playoffs in all six seasons, and 111-8-69 in all competitions.

NYCFC, co-owned by Manchester City and the Yankees, said that Kreis will start work with the team in January.

COLLEGES

Report: UConn hires Diaco

Connecticut has hired Notre Dame defensive coordinator Bob Diaco as its football coach, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to discuss the hiring. The 40-year-old Diaco takes over a team that went 3-9 this season, and fired Paul Pasqualoni after an 0-4 start.

Top coach, TE chosen

Auburn's Gus Malzahn has been named Coach of the Year, and Washington's Austin Seferian-Jenkins was selected the John Mackey Award winner for the nation's outstanding tight end. Both awards will be presented today as part of the College Football Awards Show at Disney's Boardwalk.

Boise State picks Harsin

Boise State has hired former player and offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin to be the Broncos' next head football coach. -- AP