Rick’s on his way — to visit

Steve Addy

Thursday, Jan. 11, 2001 | 10:30 a.m.

Rick Pitino couldn't seem to decide Wednesday if UNLV has made him an offer to be its next basketball coach.

First he told friend Dick Vitale that an offer was made.

Then he denied it to one of Vitale's brethren at ESPN.com.

At UNLV, nobody was saying much of anything, leaving coach Max Good wondering where he stands.

But this much became clear: If Pitino wants the job, he will get it. He said he will come to Las Vegas in the next two weeks to discuss the position with UNLV president Carol Harter and athletic director Charlie Cavagnaro, then make his decision.

"I'm going to look into the Las Vegas thing," Pitino told the Boston Globe on Wednesday. "I could take it. I really could. I don't know much about the program, other than the history of the Runnin' Rebels and that they were in the Final Four with us (in 1987 when I was at Providence). I'm going to check it out."

In the meantime, Pitino will peruse a copy of the NCAA sanctions against the Rebels to decide if four years' probation and two years of scholarship limits will make the job too challenging.

At Kentucky, Pitino took over a probation-mired program in 1989 and finally rebuilt it into an NCAA champion in 1996. In eight years, he compiled a 219-50 record.

"I don't want the same thing like at Kentucky," he told ESPN.com. "I think there's potential (at UNLV), but I want to be at a place that has a chance to win right away.

"I told (UNLV representatives) I need to know about the sanctions and how severe they are, and whether I would have the ability to win. I need to look at their players and the character, and that's the determining factor."

Pitino phoned Good on Wednesday to apologize for going after a job that isn't actually open, though that doesn't appear to have curbed his interest. Pitino has reportedly been in contact with Desert Inn owner Steve Wynn, and is now ready to talk to Harter and Cavagnaro.

"I will go (to Las Vegas) in the near future for a day and look at it, come home and think about it," he said.

Pitino gave no indication of the length or dollar value of UNLV's supposed offer, but said the financial aspect won't be the determining factor. After 3 1/2 mostly unhappy seasons as Celtics coach and president, a term that ended with his resignation Monday, lifestyle will be crucial to his decision. He and wife Joanne have two school-age children.

"If you live in Las Vegas, it's a different lifestyle than if you visit there," Pitino said.

Vitale said Pitino-UNLV would be a great match.

"Rick is the perfect college coach and he's perfect for Vegas," Vitale said. "He's a teacher and he's a motivator. I said from day one that his style was negated in the NBA.

"The big problem now would be analyzing (UNLV's) probation and all of the things involved with the NCAA."

The Rebels will be on probation through Dec. 12, 2004, but are banned from the postseason only for this season. They have two fewer scholarships to offer this year and in 2002, and the head coach -- whoever it is -- will have only 35 days of summer evaluation this year, trimmed from 70.

While Pitino and Vitale did a lot of talking Wednesday, Harter and Cavagnaro shed little fresh light on the topic. Harter issued a statement that didn't deny that Pitino has been contacted or offered the job, and Cavagnaro declined comment this morning.

Stressing that she doesn't plan to comment on daily rumors, Harter said, "I intend to consider all the long-term coaching options available to us very carefully. There's no specific timetable for this period of due diligence. Working with (Cavagnaro), I intend to report back to the community as soon as possible."

While the Rebels were chasing after Pitino, who has a 352-124 record in 15 college seasons, Good was left to wonder what's going on. UNLV is 7-1 since he took over for Bill Bayno.

"What are you hearing?" Good said when asked about the alleged offer to Pitino.

On a day of mixed signals and contradictions, the same question was on a lot of tongues.

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