Board of Regents Member Says UNLV, Grgurich in Agreement

Nevada Las Vegas officials deny a deal has been made to hire former basketball assistant Tim Grgurich for the school’s vacant head coaching position, but a Nevada Board of Regents member said Wednesday an agreement has been reached in principle and an announcement might come as soon as today.

UNLV officials and Grgurich, currently a Seattle SuperSonic assistant, have reached an agreement that will pay him a base salary of about $300,000 a year over three years to succeed recently ousted coach Rollie Massimino, Regent Shelley Berkley said from her Las Vegas office. The sides hope to resolve the remaining details and sign a contract today so Grgurich can begin working with the Rebels by Friday.

“It hasn’t been formalized, but an agreement is imminent,” Berkley said. “A lot of people feel this is in the best interest of UNLV, but it’s not done until everyone puts pen to paper.”

Publicly, though, UNLV officials say talks with Grgurich have stalled and the school might have to seek another candidate. UNLV interim President Kenny Guinn and Roy Smith, Grgurich’s attorney, did not return phone calls Wednesday. Chris Johnson, UNLV assistant sports information officer, said Guinn told him nothing has changed in negotiations with Grgurich.

Regents on Wednesday approved the almost $1.9-million buyout of Massimino’s contract, clearing the way for Grgurich, who was former coach Jerry Tarkanian’s top aide for 12 seasons.