Budget crunch unlikely to hurt quest for Pitino

Steve Addy

Monday, Feb. 26, 2001 | 10:39 a.m.

If UNLV basketball fans are fearful that the school's athletic department deficit will drive Rick Pitino into Louisville or Michigan's waiting arms, they're probably worrying over nothing.

Those schools' athletic finances aren't in great shape, either.

And neither has made a public play for Pitino, at least not yet.

While Rebels revenues have fallen $700,000 short of the fiscal year athletic budget, causing the department to implement spending and hiring freezes, Louisville and Michigan expect deficits of at least $2.5 million and $2 million, respectively, according to reports this month.

On a percentage basis, Louisville's woes are nearly twice as bad as UNLV's. The Cardinals' estimate is 9.1 percent short of their $27.5 million total athletic budget, compared to 4.7 percent for the Rebels on a budget of $14.8 million. Michigan's anticipated deficit is 4.4 percent of its $45 million total.

What does this mean for UNLV fans? For now, it means the Rebels' budget troubles probably won't damage their bid to sign Pitino as the next coach, and that Louisville and Michigan would have to do some serious number-crunching before chasing Pitino.

They would also have to do a lot of catching up. Rebels athletic director Charlie Cavagnaro and Pitino are denying reports of a "done deal," but Pitino's wife Joanne will reportedly visit Las Vegas on Tuesday to look into housing and schools. Pitino said if her trip goes well, he'll be "seriously interested" in the job.

Other sources say UNLV's potential offer to Pitino has been finalized except for the shoe company participation. Nike and adidas are said to be battling to have Pitino represent them, and funds from either company could account for more than half of a Pitino package worth between $1.5 million and $2 million per year.

Also, if Pitino were hired by UNLV, the ensuing rush of interest in the Rebels would likely alleviate the causes for the budget trouble. In calling for the spending and hiring freezes, associate AD Wendy Meyers attributed the deficit to "lower than anticipated ticket sales and scholarship donations."

But Pitino's anticipated arrival has led many fans to buy prorated ticket packages to gain seating priority for next season, sources said, signaling an increase from this season's average attendance of 11,026. Though the freezes are in effect through June 30 and have capped recruiting spending, they would likely end (at least for basketball) if Pitino is hired.

So far, only UNLV has publicly pursued the former Kentucky and Boston Celtics coach. Pitino was on Rhode Island's preliminary list of candidates, but told the school last week he is not interested.

Despite Internet rumors, and the virtual certainty that both will be in the coaches market next month, neither Michigan nor Louisville has gone after Pitino. Also, he has said nothing about the schools' potential openings, perhaps out of respect for coaches Brian Ellerbe (Michigan) and Denny Crum (Louisville).

Michigan is expected to fire Ellerbe soon after the Wolverines are knocked out of next week's Big Ten tournament. At 10-15, they'll likely be eliminated early. Michigan AD Bill Martin has said the program is in obvious disarray, but that he wouldn't evaluate Ellerbe during the season.

Things are more contentious at Louisville, where AD Tom Jurich is holding coach Denny Crum directly responsible for the program's gradual decline, and indirectly responsible for $1.1 million of the budget shortage. Jurich is expected to buy out the final two years of Crum's contract.

That's another possible tie to bind UNLV, Louisville and Michigan. Each school might have to come up with money to pay a former coach, so UNLV's stalled settlement talks with Bill Bayno wouldn't necessarily damage its bid for Pitino.

Bayno is seeking as much as $1.8 million for what he feels was wrongful termination, though he was reassigned within the athletic department. He had 2 1/2 years left on his contract when he was removed Dec. 12 after the NCAA levied four years' probation and other sanctions against the program.

Bayno is threatening to sue the school as soon as this week if a settlement isn't reached.

At Michigan, it would cost the Wolverines about $450,000 to fire Ellerbe -- his base salary for the final three years of his contract. Crum, winner of two NCAA championships in 30 years with the Cardinals, will get a $2 million buyout if he is fired before June 30 or $1.5 million after that.

Kambala was ejected with 7:17 left in the game for a flagrant foul, his second technical of the game. He said he was falling backward and swatting for the ball when his hand caught Correa on the back of the head.

MWC commissioner Craig Thompson will make the final decision on whether to suspend Kambala for Thursday's home game against Colorado State.