UNLV’s Rice Gets Contract Extension

RGJ.com

http://www.rgj.com/article/20120907/SPORTS06/309070020/1018

David Rice, head coach of men’s basketball at the University of Las Vegas, will earn $100, 000 a year more or a total base salary of $600, 000 under a new five-year contract approved by the Nevada Board of Regents at its meeting Thursday in Reno.

The new contract also provides Rice with an additional $100, 000 annually for television, radio and personal appearances.

The vote came after lengthy debate among the regents over the “ridiculously high” salaries university coaches are paid across the country, especially during hard economic times.

Rick Trachok, a Reno regent, former athlete and son of Dick Trachock, the long-time former University of Nevada, Reno coach and athletic director, voted against the additional $200, 000 a year in Rice’s new contract.

Regent Ron Knecht of Carson City was the only other member of the board who opposed the additional money based concerns similar to Trachok’s.

Trachok praised Rice for not only coaching a winning team, but for heading a program that graduates its players and stresses ethical behavior and good character.

But Trachok said he could not support giving Rice a contract that would give him a $600, 00 a year in base pay plus $100, 000 annually for media appearances for the next five years.

“That’s close to three-quarters of $1 million, Trachok said. The governor makes less than $150, 000 and the provost at UNLV makes less than $300, 000.”

The Nevada System of Higher Education also has had its budget cut by about 30 percent, he said.

UNR head basketball coach David Carter earns a total of $400, 000 a year.

Neal Smatresk, UNLV’s president, cited Rice’s 26 wins and told the regents that the increase pay will put him in the middle range of what other head basketball coaches earn in the Mountain West Conference.

UNLV’s Rice Gets Contract Extension

RGJ.com

http://www.rgj.com/article/20120907/SPORTS06/309070020/1018

David Rice, head coach of men’s basketball at the University of Las Vegas, will earn $100, 000 a year more or a total base salary of $600, 000 under a new five-year contract approved by the Nevada Board of Regents at its meeting Thursday in Reno.

The new contract also provides Rice with an additional $100, 000 annually for television, radio and personal appearances.

The vote came after lengthy debate among the regents over the “ridiculously high” salaries university coaches are paid across the country, especially during hard economic times.

Rick Trachok, a Reno regent, former athlete and son of Dick Trachock, the long-time former University of Nevada, Reno coach and athletic director, voted against the additional $200, 000 a year in Rice’s new contract.

Regent Ron Knecht of Carson City was the only other member of the board who opposed the additional money based concerns similar to Trachok’s.

Trachok praised Rice for not only coaching a winning team, but for heading a program that graduates its players and stresses ethical behavior and good character.

But Trachok said he could not support giving Rice a contract that would give him a $600, 00 a year in base pay plus $100, 000 annually for media appearances for the next five years.

“That’s close to three-quarters of $1 million, Trachok said. The governor makes less than $150, 000 and the provost at UNLV makes less than $300, 000.”

The Nevada System of Higher Education also has had its budget cut by about 30 percent, he said.

UNR head basketball coach David Carter earns a total of $400, 000 a year.

Neal Smatresk, UNLV’s president, cited Rice’s 26 wins and told the regents that the increase pay will put him in the middle range of what other head basketball coaches earn in the Mountain West Conference.