UNLV officials give Mrs. Pitino guided tour of campus, Las Vegas

Steve Addy

Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2001 | 10:57 a.m.

When Joanne Pitino landed at McCarran Airport on a private plane Tuesday, Cirque du Soleil performers didn't greet her by high-diving through a basketball net.

Siegfried and Roy didn't haul out their white tigers to jump through hoops.

And the fountains at Bellagio weren't choreographed to the UNLV fight song.

No, Rick Pitino's wife didn't come to Las Vegas to sightsee. It was a business trip to examine homes and private schools for the Pitino children in case their father becomes head coach of the Rebels.

UNLV has yet to offer Pitino a contract, though the package is said to be ready -- about $1.6 million per year for five years. Pitino said last week that his wife's trip would be crucial to his decision when the presumed offer is finally made.

Joanne Pitino's guided tour began on the UNLV campus, where she was taken to several buildings, including the Thomas & Mack Center and Lied Library.

She was accompanied by former Board of Regents chairperson Carolyn Sparks, UNLV president Dr. Carol Harter and athletic director Charlie Cavagnaro.

Sparks and Cavagnaro couldn't be reached for comment, but Las Vegas sources with knowledge of the visit were confident that Joanne Pitino was impressed.

A UNLV booster said, "Remember, the (boosters) who put this whole thing together have a lot of experience in closing big deals and as promoters."

Pitino's afternoon itinerary included tours of available homes in Spanish Trail, Spanish Hills and Summerlin, as well as visits to the Meadows School and Bishop Gorman. The Pitinos have two school-age children (Ryan, 10, and Jacqueline, 8) and the family is Catholic.

Before returning to Miami today, Pitino was expected to tour more homes.