KU’s Hinrichs finalist at Northern Colorado

Kansas University athletic department staffer Jay Hinrichs is one of five finalists for the athletic director’s job at Northern Colorado.

Hinrichs, KU’s associate athletic director for facilities planning, will interview for the post next week. The other finalists are UNC associate AD Mark Harlan, South Carolina associate AD Chris Massaro, Montana development director Jim O’Day and former Utah State AD Rance Pugmire.

Hinrichs was named to the facilities post in April after spending two years as director of the department’s Williams Fund. A KU graduate, Hinrichs spent 18 years in the front office of the Kansas City Royals.

Administration

Kansas adds another AD

Kansas University’s athletic department has added still another administrator.

Although no announcement has been made, Ben Kirtland is listed in the new KU football media guide as an associate athletic director for development.

According to his bio in the media guide, Kirtland will assist and support with fund raising, ticketing and the implementation of the newly launched priority points system.

Kirtland is a former hockey coach and developmental official at UConn where he worked with KU athletic director Lew Perkins. A former president of the Jimmy V Foundation, Kirtland has been a private consultant for the last four years, helping establish the Dale Earnhardt and the Hockey Coaches Care foundations.

The addition of Kirtland gives the KU athletic department nine people listed as associate ADs.

NFL

Jones inks four-year deal

The New York Jets announced Thursday that they had signed their four remaining draft picks — including Kansas University tackle Adrian Jones — but terms of the contracts were not disclosed.

Friday a source close to the negotiations told the Journal-World that Jones had signed a four-year pact worth $1.2 million. The contract has escalators based on Jones’ playing time and the Jets’ performance that could boost the deal to $2.4 million.

Jones, a fourth-round pick, started training camp Friday as the backup to veteran left tackle Jason Fabini.

Golf

Pair of Jayhawks advance

Benton Harbor, Mich. — Kansas University golfer Kevin Ward and former Jayhawk Tyler Hall have advanced to the Sweet 16 at the prestigious Western Amateur Golf Tournament at Point O’Woods Golf Club.

Hall, a recent KU grad from Wayne, N.J., shot a 272, good for a tie for second in four rounds of stroke play. Aron Price was the medalist at 265.

Ward, a KU senior from Leawood, shot 280 to earn a share of 12th.

KU senior Andrew Price tied for 16th after rounds of 69-71-70-69, but lost in a playoff and did not advance to match play.

“They are playing great,” KU coach Ross Randall said of the Jayhawks. “Kevin has been on fire for several weeks now. I am really thrilled they made the Sweet 16 of the second-most prestigious amateur event in the country.”

Hall and KU’s Tyler Docking have qualified for the most prestigious amateur event — the U.S. Amateur.