Robinson agrees to new deal

Steve Guiremand

Thursday, Feb. 15, 2001 | 10:46 a.m.

UNLV head football coach John Robinson said today that he has agreed in principle to a new five-year contract that will keep him at the school until the age of 70.

Robinson, who earned $366,000 during the 2000 season while coaching the Rebels to an 8-5 record and a 31-14 Las Vegas Bowl victory over Arkansas, refused to divulge the amount of the contract. However, sources close to the negotiations said the salary figure would be close to $500,000 per year -- a bargain, considering the going rate for most top Division I football coaches is now more than $1 million per year.

"We've agreed in principle to a five-year contract," Robinson said. "But the Board of Regents must review it and agree to it before anything becomes official."

Under Nevada law, the state Board of Regents must approve any contract longer than three years for a university employee.

UNLV athletic director Charles Cavagnaro also refused to disclose terms of the new contract proposal which likely will be presented to the Board of Regents at their April 19-20 meeting.

When asked if this would be his final coaching contract, Robinson chuckled and said, "You never know. I might go on to become an NBA head coach one day."