ANN ARBOR, Mich. » Michigan picked San Diego State’s Brady Hoke as its new football coach yesterday, hours after LSU said Les Miles would be staying in the Bayou.

Hoke is not a Michigan man — he’s an Ohio native and Ball State alumnus — but he is a former Wolverines assistant from better days and athletic director Dave Brandon praised him highly in announcing his decision.

"He is a terrific coach and will be a great ambassador and leader for our football program," Brandon said. "We look forward to having him build a championship program on the field and in the classroom."

Hoke, who will be introduced at a news conference in Ann Arbor today, brings something of a rebuilder’s reputation after stints at Ball State (2003-08) and San Diego State (2009-10). He went 4-8 his first year, but last season led the Aztecs to their first winning season (9-4) and bowl berth since 1998.

A defensive line coach at Michigan, Hoke helped the defense lead the nation in rushing defense and was on the staff during the 1997 national championship run. During his tenure, Michigan went 5-3 against rivals Michigan State and Ohio State and in bowl games.

Hoke replaces Rich Rodriguez, who was fired after going 15-22 in three disappointing seasons with the Wolverines. That includes an 0-6 mark against the Buckeyes and Spartans and a 38-point drubbing two weeks ago by Mississippi State in Michigan’s worst-ever bowl defeat.

Auburn’s win is cable TV’s most-watched program

Auburn’s Bowl Championships Series victory over Oregon was the most- watched cable television program of all time.

The rating still was down 14 percent from last year’s championship game on broadcast TV.

The Tigers’ 22-19 victory on ESPN was seen in 17.8 percent of U.S. homes, the Walt Disney Co. network said, citing national data collected by Nielsen Media Research. The previous record, an Oct. 5, 2009, NFL game between the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings featuring Brett Favre against his former team, received a 15.3 national rating.

Monday’s game was seen by 27.3 million viewers, compared with 21.8 million for the previous high.

Alabama’s BCS title-game win over Texas last year, which was aired on Disney’s ABC, did an 18.2 rating.

Illini RB Leshoure leaves for NFL Draft

Illinois junior running back Mikel LeShoure, who broke the Illini’s single-season rushing record, declared for the NFL Draft yesterday.

The 6-foot, 230-pound Leshoure rushed last season for 1,697 yards — 16 more than the old Illini record set in 2007 by Rashard Mendenhall — and ran for 17 touchdowns. His 330-yard, two-touchdown day in a 48-27 win over Northwestern at Wrigley Field was the best rushing performance in the country last season.

BC offensive coordinator Tranquill retires

Boston College offensive coordinator Gary Tranquill, 70, is retiring after spending two seasons under coach Frank Spaziani.

His 48-year coaching career began in 1962 as a defensive coach at Wittenberg, where he had played quarterback. He was head coach at Navy from 1982 to ’86. He also was quarterbacks coach of the Cleveland Browns from 1991 to ’93 under Bill Belichick.

Ex-Damien athlete Sipili accused of sex assault

Former Damien Memorial School and University of Colorado football player Michael Sipili has been arrested on a sexual assault allegation.

Police in Boulder say Sipili turned himself in and was arrested yesterday. Police say Sipili is accused of engaging in sexual activity with a 22-year-old woman against her will at an off-campus gathering Dec. 4. Sipili is a CU senior, but is no longer an active player on the roster.