Coach dismisses rumors of his leaving

Thursday, March 15, 2007 | 7:19 a.m.

UNLV basketball coach Lon Kruger says he isn't interested in a seat on the coaching carousel. He bristled when he was linked to a few vacancies a year ago. He knows the rumors will come again after the Rebels' success this season.

As he and the Rebels prepare for their first NCAA tournament since 2000, he admits he can do little about those rumors. The Rebels play Georgia Tech on Friday morning in Chicago in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

"There's nothing to say," Kruger said of his likely inclusion in the rumor mill. "What do you say? It just draws attention to it. No reason to draw attention to it."

Kruger, 54, signed a five-year UNLV contract worth $3.8 million in 2004. Kruger's base salary increased annually from $125,000 during the first year to $192,500 in the fifth. In 2005 the Board of Regents unanimously approved the extension of Kruger's contract one season, through 2009-10, at a base of $212,500.

Various perks and incentives include leased Cadillacs for him and his wife, Barbara, $25,000 for qualifying for the NCAA tournament and $25,000 for each victory in the tournament.

Kruger was asked whether he and his wife would be happy if, say, in 10 years, they're still living in Las Vegas and he's still coaching UNLV.

"Oh, absolutely," he said. "We love living here."