Arizona alum Terry Francona is expected to take over managerial duties for the Cleveland Indians. Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

Terry Francona ended one team’s World Series futility. Now he’s gunning for another’s.

The Associated Press is reporting that the University of Arizona alum will sign on to manage the Cleveland Indians next season. An official announcement is expected Monday.

Francona is somewhat of a folk hero in Boston where, in 2004, he guided the Red Sox to their first World Series title in 86 years. Tito went 744-522 in eight seasons as skipper of the BoSox, the best winning percentage ever among Boston managers. But things turned sour at the end of the 2011 season amid player turmoil and Francona was unceremoniously given his walking papers.

Prior to that, he managed the Philadelphia Phillies from 1997-2000. All told, he joins the Tribe with a 1,029-915 record.

The Indians haven’t won a World Series since beating the Boston (ironically) Braves in the 1948 Fall Classic. Cleveland finished the season 68-94, despite being in first place as late as July.

Francona’s father — the real Tito Francona — played for the Tribe from 1959-64.

The Boston Red Sox gave Terry "TIto" Francona his walking papers on Friday, ending his seven-year stint in Beantown. Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

The Boston Red Sox have declined to pick up the option on manager Terry Francona’s contract, effectively ending the former Arizona Wildcats’ tenure in BeanTown.

Francona leaves Boston with a 744-552 record and the franchise’s only two World Series titles in the past 92 years.

The search for a new BoSox skipper begins immediately. Here’s suggesting that the Red Sox choose another former Wildcat to man the bench for the 2012 season.

Some options:

TREVOR HOFFMAN

Hiring former pitchers and former pitching coaches as managers is en vogue these days as baseball enters a post-steroid “pitcher’s era.” See San Diego Padre skipper Bud Black and freshly interimed Chicago White Sox manager Don Cooper as an example.

Trevor Hoffman, a year removed from his retirement, could provide leadership to the Red Sox’ depleted pitching staff.

The former all-time saves leader could also breathe down the neck of closer Jonathan Papelbon, whose lone loss of 2011 came on the season’s final day and knocked the BoSox from the postseason contention.

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He's tried playing outfield. He's tried pitching. Perhaps managing is next in the cards for ex-Cat Brian Anderson. Photo by Scott Salisbury.

BRIAN ANDERSON

When being a slugging outfielder wasn’t working out for Brian Anderson in the White Sox, Red Sox and Kansas City Royals organizations, ex-Cat Brian Anderson converted to pitcher. He lasted one season on the hill before being cut by the Royals and New York Yankees during the 2011 season.

Perhaps it’s time for the enigmatic Andersonto give coaching a try.

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ALAN ZINTER

Alan Zinter stepped into the batter’s box just 84 times in his brief two-year career with the Houston Astros and Arizona Diamondbacks — and struck out 34 of those times.

When it comes to baseball experience, however, he might very well be the Crash Davis of his era, earning 5,544 plate appearances (250 career home runs) in 19 minor league seasons — 108 of those in the Red Sox farm system in 1995.

Currently he coaches for the Diamondbacks’ Double-A affiliate the Mobile Bay Bears.

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RON HASSEY

Catchers traditionally make good coaches. Plus, if the Red Sox really want to chap their rivala the Yankees, why not hire a guy who donned the pinstripes in the 80s?

Former Wildcat Ron Hassey currently coaches for the Jupiter (Fla.) Hammerheads, a Single-A Advanced affiliate of the Florida Marlins. He could even sign his son, ex-Wildcat shortstop and former Toronto Blue Jay prospect Brad Hassey as a bench coach.

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J.T. SNOW

The affable J.T. Snow — a six-time Gold Glove-winning first baseman — could stress defense to the Red Sox, who completed a MLB-worst 120 double plays in 2011.

Snow finished his 16-year career in Boston, playing 38 games for the Sox in 2006.

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CHIP HALE

Probably the most qualified and plausable choice among ex-Wildcats.

Chip Hale was among the finalist for the New York Mets top job prior to this season, a gig that, eventually, went to Terry Collins.

Hale’s served as bench coach for the Mets and the Arizona Diamondbacks. He also headed up the DBacks’ Triple-A affiliate the Tucson Sidewinders where he went a franchise-best 91-53 and earned Pacific Coast League Manager of the Year honors.

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Coaching runs in the blood of St. Louis Cardinal pitching coach Dave Duncan's son Shelley. If hitting doesn't work out for the Cleveland Indian outfielder, perhaps he could join his father in the dugout. Photo by Scott Salisbury.

DUNCAN BROTHERS

Shelley Duncan is still active and playing for the Cleveland Indians. And even though he set or equaled career highs for home runs (11), RBI (47) and batting average (.260), in 2011, his career has yet to fully take off in five years.

Younger brother Chris Duncan was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals out of Canyon Del Oro High School and didn’t go to the University of Arizona like Shelley. But he did grow up in OroValley, so he’s well versed in the Bear Down tradition.

And although Chris hasn’t pulled on a Major League uniform since 2009 with the Cards, he has spent some time since then in the Red Sox farm system.

Their careers might not equal much individually, but perhaps as a managerial duo they could challenge Marcel and Rene Lachemann (301-350) as the winningest brother combo in baseball history.

It helps having coaching in their blood. Dave Duncan, their father, has been a Big League pitching coach continually since 1979 for five franchises, including his current stint with the Cardinals, which began 15 years ago.

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NICK HUNDLEY

As long as we’re talking progressive strategies (managerial brother duos to wit), why not bring back the player-manager — a task not seen in baseball since Pete Rose multi-tasked during the 1986 season?

If the Red Sox choose to go that route, how about trying catcher Nick Hundley in a dual capacity? The former Wildcat enjoyed career bests across the board this season for the Padres (.288 batting average, 9 HR’s) and is now a free agent this off-season.

It worked for Charlie Hustle and the Cincinnati Reds. Who knows? Perhaps it can work again for the Red Sox.

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Author’s Note: This compilation is satirical in nature. Please don’t hammer my comments box over semantics.

Bear Down…and Blog!

Current and former University of Arizona athletes are always making news and not always in traditional mediums. We scoured the Internet and found Wildcats online by visiting these lynx

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NEWS

UPDATE: WEARING UNIFORM No. 0, MIKE BIBBY WENT 1-4 FROM THE FLOOR, SCORING 3 THREE POINTS, IN HIS MIAMI HEAT DEBUT ON THURSDAY NIGHT. MIAMI, HOWEVER, WAS FELLED BY IN-STATE RIVAL ORLANDO 99-96.

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Mustafa Shakur has bragging rights over his fellow University of Arizona alum Mike Bibby. The former (Shakur, 20 points) is higher than the latter (Bibby, 2) on the Washington Wizards’ all-time points-scored list.

Bibby’s tenure in Washington was a brief one — shorter than Shakur, a player who’s playing in D.C. via a 10-day contract.

Bibby joined the Miami Heat on Wednesday after accepting a buyout of more than $6 million to divorce himself from the lowly Wizards after just two games. He’ll add depth to a franchise that looks to contend for an NBA championship. He’s been praised as a team-first guy for leaving that much money behind, especially with a potential league-wide lock-out on the horizon.

An NBA championship for the 13-year-, 5-team-veteran will give Bibby titles at every level, including the ones he earned at Phoenix’s Shadow Mountain High School (1996) and at the University of Arizona (1997).

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WEB

Don’t believe us? Read the news on the official Mike Bibby website.

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TWITTER

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“Almost 100% healed… Been 4 weeks. Finally almost back and actually have both my hands.”

- Arizona forward Derrick Williams with the news that Wildcats fans have been longing to hear, especially after the team’s two-game skid in Los Angeles

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“Brooks Reed just made himself some money..4.6, 30 reps.. AZ”

- Senior Wildcat safety Anthony Wilcox on former his former teammate and defensive counterpart Brooks Reed, whose 4.6-second time in the 40-yard dash was tied for the third best among defensive ends at this week’s NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis 

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“Hitting stripped range balls off matts ….yes I’m spoiled on tour with tm penta and perfect grass!”

- Thank you, LPGA pro Natalie Gulbis. It’s a fact: Naked golf balls do fly further than clothed ones

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“Aces best random ? Of the day- Did Jesus wear underwear?”

- Yes he did, UA softball star Jennie Finch…but never while he hit stripped golf balls

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“Spring break locations this year? Where everyone going!!??”

- There’s only so much New England cold former Wildcat and current Patriot tight end Rob Gronkowski can stand

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“A group of demonstrators outside the hotel. They chant between 7 am and 7 pm. Don’t think it will do any good…”

- Annika Sorenstam in Washington D.C. for the Salute Military Golf Association’s National Health through Fitness day on March 2

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“Anybody ever slipped goin down the stairs and tried to grab the rail but it was too late?? Yeah me either……..”

- Not me, former UA guard Nic Wise. I’m the guy who trips running up the stairs.

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“Anyone interested in buying my matte black Ducati Monster 695 (600mi)?”

- How much do you want for it, former Wildcat swim star and Olympic medalist, Amanda Beard

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“man i just ate a McLobster and it hits !! oh my, and its on the dollar menu. O.o”

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“I’m just playing. lol I didn’t have a mclobster.”

- You just made a powerful enemy, Arizona forward Solomon Hill — my stomach. I already had my shoes on and my car keys in my hand before I read the second Tweet

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WIK-CAT-PEDIA

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Former Wildcat Terry Francona, seen here coaching the Boston Red Sox during spring training in Fort Myers, Fla., will headline College Baseball's 2011 hall of fame class. Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

Terry Francona

will forever be remembered as the guy who brought a World Series back to the Boston Red Sox after 86 torturous years of futility. The man affectionately known as “Tito,” has a habit of endearing himself to his fan-bases.

Francona led the Wildcats to a College World Series title in 1980, earning the series’ most valuable player award along the way. That year also saw Tito win the prestigious Golden Spikes Award as the nation’s top amateur ball player.

His exploits in a Wildcat uniform have earned him a nod in this year’s College Baseball Hall of Fame. Joining Francona in the hall this year is Danny Goodwin, Southern University; Dick Groat, Duke; Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones, Grambling State; Oddibe McDowell, Arizona State; Tim Wallach, Cal State Fullerton; and Bill Wilhelm, Clemson.

Read more of Francona’s hefty résumé on his official Wikipedia page.

*Disclaimer: Remember, take into consideration that Wikipedia can be edited by anyone.

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YOUTUBE

When scaling Mount Lemmon and Mount Graham proved too easy, Arizona alums took to loftier aspirations, if not elevations.

Arizona alum Kit DesLauriers certainly left her mark on the work’s highest peak as the first woman and first American to ski down the summit of Mount Everest.

At risk of editorializing: that’s a tad on the insane side.

Mother Nature, however, can be fickle and wildly unpredictable. For every Kit DesLauriers, there are hundreds who succumb to the unforgiving elements of a mountain that scrapes the sky at 29,029 feet.

Wildcat nation lost cheerleader Morgan Boisson to Chomolunga in 2009 from what’s believed to be severe altitude sickness.

This one goes out to you, Morgan…Bear Down