Kansas University is expected to fill its assistant-coaching vacancy by hiring Steve Tovar, a source in the KU athletic department confirmed. The announcement could be made official as soon as today.

Tovar, 36, will replace Mike Mallory, who is leaving to become secondary coach at Louisville.

A three-year veteran of the coaching ranks, Tovar is a former NFL linebacker and All-American while at Ohio State. He played for the Cincinnati Bengals, San Diego Chargers and Carolina Panthers in an eight-year professional career.

Most recently, Tovar was on the staff of the Miami Dolphins under coach Nick Saban in 2006, before Saban left the pro ranks to take the head-coaching job at Alabama. Tovar coached the linebackers at Army for two seasons before going to Miami.

Tovar has a connection to KU’s staff. Current Jayhawks defensive coordinator Bill Young was in charge of Ohio State’s defense while Tovar was playing there.

¢Keith signs: Former KU defensive end Charlton Keith signed with the Oakland Raiders earlier this week.

A 6-foot-5, 240-pound pass-rusher, Keith was undrafted out of KU but joined the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad midway through the 2006 season. He was an All-Big 12 end at KU in 2005.

¢Luke back in: Yet another player from KU’s Fort Worth Bowl team also is trying out the professional ranks, though in an indoor setting. Former KU quarterback Brian Luke has signed with the Central Valley Coyotes of arenafootball2, the minor league of the ever-growing Arena Football League.

Luke is one of three quarterbacks on the Coyotes’ roster – all rookies. Central Valley plays its home games in Fresno, Calif., about 21â2 hours from Luke’s hometown of Walnut Creek.