Coach has winning, not salary, on mind

Tuesday, May 20, 2003 | 9:58 a.m.

As second-year UNLV baseball coach Jim Schlossnagle prepares for the postseason, his boss said it is premature to speculate about Schlossnagle's future.

"Let's just wait until the season's over," said Rebels athletic director and football coach John Robinson. "I don't think there's any question that he's the kind of person who you want to keep in your program as many years as possible."

UNLV (41-15) is the top seed in the Mountain West Conference tournament that starts Wednesday in Albuquerque. Ranked 18th nationally, the Rebels are close to their second trip to the NCAA tournament in 14 years.

Schlossnagle, 33, earned acclaim as Tulane's pitching coach, and the native of Hagerstown, Md., is well-respected, especially in the South. Insiders are also impressed with Schlossnagle's fund-raising skills.

Rod Soesbe, Schlossnagle's predecessor, was 129-155 in five seasons. Schlossnagle is 71-45.

Tulane coach Rick Jones told the Sun that UNLV would be "foolish" to lose such a hot commodity like Schlossnagle, whose current annual salary is $67,500 and includes a three-year rollover agreement.

"We all want professional advancement, and I think he believes that goal is achievable here," Robinson said. "We have the obligation to give him a realistic chance to achieve it. If we can keep him, to where he can bring his plan to fruition, then I think he'll be happy to stay here."

Schlossnagle has told the Sun that he wants to be at UNLV as long as the administration -- Robinson and Dr. Carol Harter, UNLV's president -- are committed to having a winning baseball program.

His office in the Lied Athletic Complex is about 12 steps away from Robinson's, and Robinson said he has been very pleased by what he has seen from the baseball team, on and off the diamond, under Schlossnagle.

"I see them a lot, and I've been thoroughly impressed with the way they've gone about it since he came in," Robinson said. "He has good guys. They're fun to talk to when you see them in the hall. And they're winning.

"So it's a fun atmosphere going on right now. He has enthusiasm, and he has shown the ability to recruit and bring excitement to baseball. He's determined to build a program."