Bayno seeks hefty buyout

Steve Addy

Friday, Jan. 12, 2001 | 10:36 a.m.

While former UNLV basketball coach Bill Bayno gets used to his newly created job at the university, his attorney is threatening a lawsuit for at least $1.8 million if UNLV doesn't begin "good faith negotiations" to settle Bayno's contract.

Amid speculation that Rick Pitino could be paid more than $1 million a year to become the Rebels' new coach, attorney Steve Owens claims the university has breached Bayno's contract and that he is entitled to full payment for his final three seasons.

In a letter faxed Wednesday to University System general counsel Tom Ray, a copy of which was obtained by the Sun, Owens said that UNLV's most recent settlement offer "leaves coach Bayno no alternative but to file suit" to recover the remainder of his contract.

Owens said Bayno could also seek damages for loss of future earnings and damages stemming from "defamatory statements made by university officials."

"If we are forced to litigate this matter because the university would not negotiate in good faith, the university will have no one to blame except itself," Owens advised Ray.

Though Owens' letter indicated he hadn't heard from Ray since Dec. 21, its timing curiously coincides with the university's pursuit of Pitino to take over the basketball program. Pitino will visit Las Vegas next week to discuss the job with UNLV officials.

The letter on Bayno's behalf could be meant as a reminder to UNLV that before it signs a new coach to a multimillion-dollar contract, it could face expensive litigation from a previous coach.

Bayno was relieved of his duties on Dec. 11 by UNLV president Carol Harter and athletic director Charlie Cavagnaro as a result of major NCAA sanctions against his program, including four years' probation, a postseason ban this year and limits on scholarships and recruiting.

The penalties stemmed largely from improper benefits given to a recruit by a UNLV booster and Bayno friend.

Bayno was reassigned in the athletic department and began work Monday as UNLV's assistant director for development, special events and summer camps and clinics. He has an office at the Thomas & Mack Center.

But Owens claims the university has breached Bayno's contract because his new job "is not consistent with his education and experience, as required by the contract." He says Bayno has no experience in fundraising (development) or special events.

"Even the summer basketball camps that utilized his name were organized and operated by others," Owens wrote.

Owens' letter said UNLV's undisclosed settlement offer fails even to match Bayno's remaining base salary through April 2003 ($318,500). Owens claims that by the university's strict interpretation of Bayno's contract wording, he is owed at least that amount, plus $425,500 in additional income for this season.

Bayno coached only seven games before his reassignment, but Owens claims UNLV is liable for the entire 2000-01 season in regards to supplemental compensation for Bayno.

That includes payments for TV and radio appearances ($125,000), attendance ($40,000 or $100,000), Nike shoes and apparel ($125,000) and other items. Owens said Bayno is also entitled to reimbursement for legal fees, about $90,000 so far.

"The contract does not require that Coach Bayno finish the season as head coach in order to receive (these amounts)," Owens stated. "(Even if) the university will only pay amounts under the narrowest construction of the contract, the amount due Coach Bayno is much, much more than anything the university has offered to date."

It is unknown how much UNLV has offered Bayno, though one report pegged the university's original offer at about $88,000, or seven months of Bayno's annual base pay of $136,500.

Bayno has declined comment this week, referring all questions to Owens.

Ray could not be reached for comment today.