Los Angeles — Pete Carroll loves challenges and the NFL game. The Seattle Seahawks offered both, and not even Southern California could compete.

Carroll ended his nine-year tenure with the Trojans on Monday, leaving behind a program facing multiple woes for a lucrative deal to coach the Seahawks.

“If you know anything about me, you know I can’t pass up this challenge,” Carroll said.

USC quarterback Matt Barkley also said quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates is leaving with Carroll after just one season, presumably to become the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator.

Carroll won 97 games, seven Pac-10 titles and two national championships at USC, but the school is under a cloud of an NCAA investigation and other scandals after its worst season since Carroll’s first year. Although the charismatic 58-year-old coach spoke glowingly of his “gorgeous” tenure in Los Angeles, he jumped at the best — and timeliest — of many offers he’s received over the years to return to the NFL, which he reveres as “the highest level of competition.”

“I do not expect to ever be able to top what we just did,” Carroll said. “I think it’s just been a beautiful time together. It hurts to separate right now … but it can’t keep on going, because I can’t pass up this opportunity.”

Carroll’s departure ends one of the most successful runs in college football history — perhaps right when it was about to become much less fun, considering the just-completed 9-4 season which ended USC’s run atop the Pac-10 and snapped its string of BCS bowl games.

Carroll insisted his decision had nothing to do with the NCAA’s lengthy look into his program, denouncing rumors of a rift between him and athletic director Mike Garrett. Carroll said he thought he “would be here forever.”

NFL

Reid: McNabb staying

Philadelphia — No. 5 will return to Philadelphia for a 12th season.

Eagles coach Andy Reid squelched speculation about Donovan McNabb’s future, saying the five-time Pro Bowl quarterback will be back next season.

Bills interested in Jets aide

Buffalo, N.Y. — A person familiar with the request says the Bills have asked the New York Jets for permission to interview offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer for Buffalo’s head coaching vacancy.

Miami fires D-coordinator

Miami — The Miami Dolphins have fired defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni after the team finished 25th in points allowed last season.

Browns hire ex-Eagles GM

Cleveland — The Cleveland Browns have hired Tom Heckert as their general manager, luring him away from the Philadelphia Eagles.

College football

‘Bama LB to enter draft

Tuscaloosa, Ala. — Alabama All-American linebacker Rolando McClain says he is skipping his senior season to enter the NFL Draft.

McClain made the announcement Monday at a news conference in Tuscaloosa. An defensive anchor for the national champion Crimson Tide, McClain is projected as a first-round pick.

2 Gators to enter draft

Gainesville, Fla. — Florida has two more underclassmen headed to the NFL and one junior sticking around another season.

Defensive end Carlos Dunlap and center Maurkice Pouncey announced their intentions Monday. Guard Mike Pouncey, however, plans to return for his senior year.

NU CB to return

Lincoln, Neb. — Nebraska defensive coordinator Carl Pelini says All-Big 12 cornerback Prince Amukamara will remain with the Cornhuskers another year.

Amukamara has been listed in some NFL draft projections after making 54 tackles and intercepting five passes in his first season as a starter.

3 more leave Ga. Tech

Atlanta — Georgia Tech all-America defensive end Derrick Morgan, running back Jonathan Dwyer and safety Morgan Burnett held a joint campus news conference Monday to announce they’ll enter the NFL Draft with a year of college eligibility remaining.

Leavitt fighting for job

Palm Harbor, Fla. — Former South Florida football coach Jim Leavitt wants his job back, insisting his dismissal for allegedly striking one of his players and then lying about the incident was unwarranted.

“The allegations were misreported. I said that from day one, and I don’t care how long it takes, I’m in this for my life — my name, my reputation, my family,” Leavitt said Monday during a news conference at the office of his attorneys.

“I want to coach this football team, this is the greatest job in the country, this is the greatest place to live, these guys are special, and I love my players, and I’m going to battle for my players in every way I can.”

Arizona hires CU aide

Tucson, Ariz. — Arizona has hired Colorado assistant Greg Brown as its co-defensive coordinator. The 52-year-old Brown will run the Wildcats’ defense with linebackers coach Tim Kish.

Ex-Vol pleads guilty

Knoxville, Tenn. — Former Tennessee wide receiver Nu’Keese Richardson pleaded guilty to one count of attempted robbery on Monday.

Richardson, 19, was charged Nov. 12 with two of his former teammates and a friend after three men reported to police that two men tried to rob them while they were sitting in their car at a Knoxville convenience store.

Riley staying at OSU

Corvallis, Ore. — Oregon State football coach Mike Riley agreed to a three-year contract extension through 2019.

NBA

Bucks’ Redd out

Milwaukee — The Milwaukee Bucks say guard Michael Redd will miss the rest of the season because of a knee injury.

Ex-player pleads guilty

Somerville, N.J. — Former NBA star Jayson Williams, his personal life in shambles, took responsibility for accidentally shooting his limousine driver to death eight years ago by pleading guilty Monday to assault and agreeing to serve at least 18 months in prison.

College basketball

G-Town women ranked

Off to its best start in 30 years, Georgetown is back in the Top 25.

The Hoyas are ranked 24th in The Associated Press women’s basketball poll, their second trip to the Top 25.

Connecticut again was the unanimous choice as the top team, receiving 40 first-place votes from a national media panel Monday.

Stanford remained No. 2 with Notre Dame, Tennessee and Ohio State rounding out the top five.

Kansas fell out of the Top 25.

DePaul fires men’s coach

Chicago — DePaul coach Jerry Wainwright was fired Monday with the school mired in a 22-game regular-season losing streak in the Big East. Assistant Tracy Webster took over for the rest of the season on an interim basis.

Wisconsin forward out

Milwaukee — Wisconsin forward Jon Leuer broke his left wrist in Saturday’s win against Purdue and is out indefinitely.

Baseball

Maddux joins Cubs office

Chicago — Pitching great Greg Maddux has rejoined the Chicago Cubs as an assistant to general manager Jim Hendry.

Royals sign Herges

Kansas City, Mo. — The Kansas City Royals have agreed to a one-year minor league deal with right-hander Matt Herges and invited him to spring training.

Herges went 2-1 with a 3.55 ERA in 21 relief appearances for Cleveland last season. The 39-year-old Herges was 1-0 with a 2.89 ERA in nine games for Colorado in 2007.

Report: Astros for sale

Houston — Houston Astros owner Drayton McLane is considering an offer to sell the team, a television station reported.

McLane, who’s owned the team since 1993, has signed a working letter of intent to sell the team to a group consisting of local and out-of-town investors, KTRK-TV reported.

Chapman, Reds agree

Cincinnati — Cuban left-hander Aroldis Chapman agreed Monday to a $30.25 million, six-year contract with the Cincinnati Reds.