Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2003 | 9:27 a.m.
When asked by a reporter back in early July if reports he had applied for the vacant UNLV athletic directors job were true, longtime East Carolina AD Mike Hamrick was succinct.
"I wasn't even aware they had an opening," he said. "You can scatch me off that list."
Six weeks later Hamrick may very well be at the top of that list.
Hamrick, who worked as an intern in UNLV's ticket department in 1981-82, ended his two-day interview for the UNLV athletic director opening on Tuesday afternoon. And even though fewer than than a dozen boosters and administrators stopped by for a one-hour social gathering with Hamrick at the school's Foundations Building -- about half as many as showed up last week for Montana's Wayne Hogan -- those who did attend left impressed.
"Wayne Hogan was very smooth and did a nice job on his visit here," said one visitor who asked not to be identified. "But for what UNLV needs, trying to get into the BCS and raising money, I'm not so sure (Hamrick) isn't the more qualified candidate. He's had extensive dealings with trying to get into the BCS with Conference-USA and East Carolina."
Of course, since President Dr. Carol Harter ultimately has the final say, gatherings such as Tuesday's get-together really don't carry a whole lot of weight. And Idaho's Mike Bohn, the third and last finalist, is in the on-deck circle awaiting confirmation for his visit early next week.
The big issue could be money. Hogan earns $106,000 a year at Montana while Hamrick is making a base salary of $180,000 plus bonus clauses. UNLV's last full-time athletic director, Charles Cavagnaro, earned $148,000 in his final year in 2001. Bohn makes a base salary of $145,017 per year and gets another $5,000 for public appearances.
"That's a question you'd have to ask (Harter)," Hamrick replied when asked if money could be an obstacle. "For me to speculate on that ... I can't do that."
Hamrick still maintains he never actually applied for the UNLV post.
"The executive search committee contacted me," he said.
When?
"I can't recall," he said.
Hamrick said he was impressed with what he saw during his two-day tour of UNLV.
"It's been a great visit," he said. "I met a lot of really good people.The campus is just absolutely amazing in terms of growth. The athletic facilities ... there are still a few needs ... but the athletic facilities are outstanding. And I'm impressed with the coaches I met. ... There's a lot of upside to this place."
Hamrick said he was given no time frame on when UNLV would make a decision. Harter has said she'd like to have her new AD in place before UNLV's season-opening game against Toledo on Aug. 29.
"I came to visit and get a feel for the place and they got a feel for me," he said. "We'll see what happens."
Did he have a good feel for how things went?
"I've got a great feel," Hamrick said. "My hat's really off to the people here."
So don't scratch Mike Hamrick's name off that UNLV AD list quite yet?
"No," he said. "This has been a good experience."
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