Todd Haley was hired as coach of the Kansas City Chiefs yesterday after helping the Arizona Cardinals reach the Super Bowl as coordinator of one of the NFL's most exciting offenses.

Haley joins a team that went a franchise-worst 2-14 under coach Herm Edwards, who was fired Jan. 23. Edwards lost all but two of his last 25 games and launched a rebuilding project that made the Chiefs the league's youngest team.

Scott Pioli, hired last month as general manager, said at a news conference that Haley has a "strong understanding of players and the type of players that create championship football teams."

Haley called this an "ideal situation" for him and "a chance to work with someone I have experience with in Scott."

During the NFC Championship game against Philadelphia, Haley had an argument with quarterback Kurt Warner, then a short blowup with wide receiver Anquan Boldin.

Haley and Pioli worked together at the New York Jets.

STEROIDS CASE

STUBBLEFIELD ISSUED TWO YEARS' PROBATION

A federal judge yesterday sentenced former NFL player Dana Stubblefield to two years' probation for lying to investigators about his steroid use.

U.S. District Judge Susan Illston cited Stubblefield's later cooperation with authorities in the BALCO steroids case.

Federal prosecutors said Stubblefield turned over the names of players, agents and trainers he suspected of drug use.

According to prosecutors, Stubblefield received notice from the NFL on Nov. 10, 2003, that he had tested positive for THG, or "the clear."

Three days later, he told IRS agent Jeff Novitzky he had never used that substance, according to the court records.

Stubblefield played defensive line for San Francisco, Washington and Oakland from 1993-03.

ELSEWHERE

Cardinals: Clancy Pendergast won't return as defensive coordinator for Arizona, two local media outlets reported. The Arizona Republic quoted NFL sources as saying Pendergast would not return but said it wasn't known if he was leaving to take another position or had been dismissed. XTRA sports radio reported that Pendergast had been fired.

Colts: Former Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Larry Coyer has been hired to run Indianapolis' defense. Coyer spent the past two seasons at Tampa Bay and previously spent seven years with Denver, the final four as defensive coordinator.