Football

Maryland to look into coaching practices — The University of Maryland will launch an external investigation into the football program’s coaching practices in the wake of damning reports about the team’s staff and treatment of players, school President Wallace Loh wrote in a letter to the university community Saturday night. The letter was sent about an hour after third-year football coach D.J. Durkin and three other staff members were placed on administrative leave. Offensive coordinator Matt Canada has been named interim coach, and the team opens its season in less than three weeks. The school already has hired a sports medicine consulting group, Walters Inc., to investigate the protocols and procedures relating to the death of offensive lineman Jordan McNair. The former McDonogh star was hospitalized May 31 after an offseason workout and died June 13 of what his parents’ attorney said Sunday was heatstroke. The external review is expected to conclude by Sept. 15.

Softball

U.S. qualifies for Olympics with win at worlds — Kelsey Stewart drove in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning as the United States beat Japan 7-6 in the final of the women’s world softball championship on Sunday. Stewart’s single down the third base line scored the runner from third as the defending champions rallied with three runs in the tenth off Japan starter Yukiko Ueno. Aubree Monroe and Michelle Moultrie also drove in runs in the 10th. The tournament doubles as a qualifier for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The U.S. secured its spot in the Olympics earlier Sunday when Japan beat Canada 3-0. Japan is automatically in the 2020 tournament as host. Softball and baseball were dropped from the Olympic program after the 2008 Beijing Games but have been restored for 2020.

— From wire reports