Sports sponsorship: Dartmouth College announced that its men's and women's varsity swimming and diving programs will be continued through a funding agreement among a group of students, alumni, and parents and the Dartmouth administration. The agreement calls for the program to be fully reinstated based on a $2 million fund-raising effort. "I am very pleased that we have reached a positive outcome that enables us to continue the program," Dartmouth Athletics Director JoAnn Harper said. "Through (these) efforts, we have overcome the budget pressure that forced the original decision." Dartmouth announced in late November that the swimming/diving program would be eliminated at the end of the current competitive season in March as part of planned college-wide budget reductions. The new arrangement calls for the teams to be restored through $2 million in pledges to finance operating expenses for 10 years while other funding options are identified. Dartmouth President James Wright said the plan "is a wonderful example of how the Dartmouth community can work together in a constructive effort. I am pleased that we will continue to have swimming and diving at Dartmouth."

Milestones: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, women's basketball coach Pat Summitt became the first coach in women's college basketball history to win 800 career games when her Lady Vols beat DePaul University, 76-57, January 14. Summitt is just the fourth men's or women's coach in Division I with 800 victories behind University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, men's coach Dean Smith; University of Kentucky men's coach Adolph Rupp; and Mount St. Mary's College men's coach Jim Phelan. Smith retired in 1997 with a record 879 wins. Summitt's record stands at 800-161 in 29 seasons with six national championships. "I have no intention of getting out soon," Summitt told fans during a postgame celebration. "I know everybody thinks I'm going to run out of gas. I love (coaching). I do actually enjoy practice as much as games. At game time, I like to be able to watch the results of our teaching and coaching in practice situations. When I don't feel that way, I'm out of here."

Miscellaneous: Georgia State University basketball coach Charles "Lefty" Driesell has retired. Georgia State President Carl Patton and Athletics Director Greg Manning announced that the head job has been turned over to six-year assistant Michael Perry. "I woke up on New Year's Day and told my wife Joyce I was ready to quit," Driesell said. "She told me to do what I wanted as long as I didn't yell at her like I did at players. I always had signs that said the harder you work, the luckier you get. Now I guess it will have to change to the less you work, the better you'll feel." Driesell, who turned 71 on Christmas Day, is ranked fourth all-time in NCAA history with 786 wins over 41 seasons as a head coach. His win total trails only Dean Smith, Adolph Rupp and Bobby Knight among coaches who spent their entire careers in Division I. He began his coaching career at Davidson College and also served coaching stints at the University of Maryland, College Park, and James Madison University. From a career that began four decades ago in 1960, Driesell has gone on to set NCAA records that include:

Only coach to win 100 games at four different schools.

Only coach to be named coach of the year in four conferences.

Only coach to win tournament titles in four conferences.

Shares NCAA record of taking four different schools to NCAA tournament.

Received NCAA Award of Valor for saving lives in house fire.

Driesell also is known as the "inventor" of the "Midnight Madness" celebrations that have become the traditional start of the college basketball season. Perry has been with Driesell all six seasons at Georgia State, and was named associate head coach two years ago. He served as bench coach for six games in 2000-01 when Driesell had neck surgery and guided the team to a 5-1 mark that included a championship in the Hawaii Nike Festival over a pair of NCAA tournament teams ... Ohio State University head football coach Jim Tressel has been chosen as Division I-A coach of the year by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). Tressel, who also won the award at Division I-AA Youngstown State University, led the Buckeyes to an undefeated season and a 31-24 double-overtime win over the University of Miami (Florida) in this year's Bowl Championship Series title game. Tressel is the first coach to be honored at two different schools from different NCAA divisions. Western Kentucky University head coach Jack Harbaugh was named the AFCA coach of the year in Division I-AA after leading his team to the national championship over McNeese State University December 21 ... Ohio State's Tressel also made news as a donor in addition to leading the Buckeyes to the national championship. Tressel and his wife Ellen have pledged $125,000 to Youngstown State toward construction of a $12 million student recreation center. Tressel led Youngstown State to four Division I-AA championships during a 15-year career there. Ellen Tressel is a 1975 Youngstown State graduate.

-- Compiled by Gary T. Brown