Majerus, UNLV officials to meet

Steve Addy

Thursday, March 8, 2001 | 10:59 a.m.

MWC men's tournament

Today's first round

(Seedings in parentheses)

2:30 p.m. -- (2) BYU vs. (7) Air Force, (KFBT, Ch. 6)

6 p.m. -- (3) Wyoming vs. (6) San Diego State (KFBT, Ch. 6)

9 p.m. -- (4) New Mexico vs. (5) Colorado State (ESPN, Ch. 19)

(1) Utah, bye

Friday's semifinals

6 p.m. -- BYU-Air Force winner vs. Wyoming- SDSU winner (KFBT, Ch. 6)

9 p.m. -- Utah vs. CSU- New Mexico winner (ESPN, Ch. 19)

Saturday

7 p.m. -- Championship (ESPN, Ch. 19)

Slick Rick said no to UNLV. Now the Rebels are hoping Big Rick says yes.

After losing out on Rick Pitino to be its next basketball coach, UNLV is putting on a full-court press to lure Rick Majerus from Utah.

Two boosters with knowledge of the coaching search said athletic director Charlie Cavagnaro plans to meet with Majerus today to gauge his interest. Majerus is in town for the Mountain West tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Cavagnaro would not comment about the push for Majerus, who interviewed to replace Jerry Tarkanian in 1992, but remained at Utah.

"It would not be appropriate for me to discuss any of the people involved in the process," Cavagnaro said. "But the process is moving along, and I feel good about where we are. I feel confident we're going to have a good coach to run our program."

To meet with Majerus, Cavagnaro had to obtain permission from Utah athletic director Chris Hill.

Attempts to contact Majerus in Las Vegas were unsuccessful.

After UNLV spent six weeks trying to entice Pitino to take over the troubled program, the former Kentucky coach withdrew from consideration Sunday. But the school wasted no time turning to Majerus, who had been considered for the job before Pitino was available.

Because Majerus has long been aware of UNLV's interest, Cavagnaro should be able to learn quickly if the portly coach wants the job. The meeting might also include UNLV president Dr. Carol Harter, a university source said.

Especially after the Pitino episode, UNLV officials want to adhere to a methodical timetable. Though Cavagnaro said he would not set unnecessary deadlines, he wants to avoid allowing candidates to stretch out the process.

There are few current job openings of UNLV's stature.

"Sooner is obviously better than later," Cavagnaro said.

Majerus, 52, owns a 361-125 record in 17 years as a head coach. He is 262-73 in 12 years at Utah, having guided the Utes to the NCAA championship game in 1998. He coached only one game this season before leaving to tend to his health and his mother's.

Majerus spent much of November and December in Las Vegas rehabilitating from right knee surgery. He planned to return to his team in January, but chest pains forced him to undergo two heart procedures, and he decided to leave the Utes to interim coach Dick Hunsaker all season.

Also, Majerus' mother is battling cancer in Milwaukee and he has spent much time there.