Duke hires player's dad to coach team

DURHAM, N.C. -- Duke University has hired John Danowski from Hofstra to coach its embattled men's lacrosse team, the new coach said Friday.

"It's a very exciting time," Danowski told The Associated Press. "Duke University is one of the top schools in the country by any measure."

Danowski, whose son Matt is a Duke senior and All-America attackman for the Blue Devils, will replace Mike Pressler, who resigned soon after a woman told police she was raped by three men at a March team party where she was hired to perform as a stripper.

A grand jury has indicted three lacrosse players -- Reade Seligmann, 20, of Essex Fells, N.J.; Collin Finnerty, 19, of Garden City, N.Y.; and David Evans, 23, of Bethesda, Md. -- on charges of rape, kidnapping and sexual offense. Defense attorneys strongly have proclaimed the players' innocence..

In 21 seasons at Hofstra, Danowski compiled a record of 192-123, taking the Pride to the NCAA tournament in seven of the past 11 seasons. In his 24-year career, Danowski has a record of 219-139.