With Bayno era over, coach moves on with no regrets

Steve Addy

Thursday, March 15, 2001 | 9:59 a.m.

SAN DIEGO -- The Bill Bayno era at UNLV is officially over, but he's not looking back in anger.

Disappointment? Sure. Regret? Just a little.

But after signing a $400,000 settlement with the university for the remainder of his contract, Bayno said he appreciated the chance to coach the Rebels for six seasons, rather than dwelling on how his stint ended.

"I hold no ill will toward UNLV or anyone," Bayno said Wednesday from New York as he departed for a scouting trip near Madrid, Spain. "I am obviously disappointed in how I was treated, but I've never been a person who wishes bad things on anyone.

"I prayed that this experience wouldn't make me bitter or change my beliefs and values. It has made my faith stronger."

Bayno was replaced as coach on Dec. 11 after the NCAA levied major sanctions against the Rebels, including four years' probation. The NCAA cleared him of specific violations, but UNLV president Carol Harter reassigned Bayno, saying he should be held accountable for the program's missteps.

Settlement talks dragged on for three months, with Bayno threatening a lawsuit for at least $1.8 million. The suit was readied last week, but Boyd Gaming chairman Bill Boyd stepped in and mediated a settlement between Bayno attorney John Moran and University System lawyer Tom Ray.

"Obviously I settled for less (money) than I thought I deserved, and less than other coaches, ADs and lawyers thought I deserved," Bayno said. "I took less because I wanted to move on with my life.

"But if I had gotten $2 million or zero, all the money or disappointment couldn't take away from the love and happiness I feel for the players and coaches at UNLV. It's a great relationship, and I think that was shown on Senior Night."

On the last night of the season, Bayno attended his first home game since his dismissal. Though it made some observers uncomfortable, Bayno escorted Kaspars Kambala to center court to receive his senior plaque.

After the game, Bayno raced on to the court to congratulate Trevor Diggs on his 49-point game, and addressed the team in the locker room at coach Max Good's urging.

"That was not meant to rub it in anyone's face," Bayno said. "That was my last time being with those guys together as a family. I felt like I was coaching that game and they were playing for me. That meant the world to me."

Bayno, 39, leaves UNLV with a 94-64 record, one regular-season conference title (Mountain West, 2000), two conference tournament titles (WAC, 1998; MWC, 2000) and two appearances in the NCAA Tournament (1998, 2000).

But Bayno could not return the Rebels to NCAA Tournament glory, losing to Princeton in 1998 and Tulsa last year.

"To the fans who didn't think I won enough, all I can say is I understand their frustration," Bayno said. "But I put my heart and soul into the program. I worked as hard as any coach in the country. And we recruited good kids into the program."

But Bayno said he regrets trying to bring Lamar Odom to UNLV in 1997. The recruitment of Odom was the focal point of the NCAA investigation that yielded the recent sanctions. Odom received at least $5,400 in cash and improper benefits from UNLV booster and Bayno pal Dr. David Chapman.

"If I had to do it all over again, obviously I never would have recruited Lamar," Bayno said. "For a long time, I didn't want to recruit him.

"But I can say I never gave Lamar anything, and I never told anyone else to give him anything. The NCAA has made that clear."

Bayno is unsure how soon his reputation and resume will recover, however.

"Nationally, I don't know what it's done to my reputation," he said. "The way it was spun at (UNLV's) press conference, it was 'NCAA violations, Bayno fired.' But I think more people are starting to realize that I have been cleared by the NCAA.

"I'm keeping my options open in regards to college jobs."

In the meantime, Bayno will do part-time NBA scouting. He'll file a report from Spain for the Celtics, but strictly as a volunteer. He'll attend the Final Four in Minneapolis and other predraft camps in preparation for possible NBA employment next season.

Until then, the only job politicking Bayno plans to do is on Good's behalf. Good is a candidate for the Rebels' coaching job after guiding them to a 13-9 record after Bayno's removal.

"I hope Max and the staff get the job," Bayno said. "They are very capable. They deserve a chance to finish what we started. I hope if the university has any negative feelings toward me, they don't hold that against Max and the staff.

"If the university gives them a chance, they will make them proud."

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