In a move designed to keep two successful coaches from being lured away from the University of Nevada, the Board of Regents Thursday approved new three year contracts for the women's basketball and volleyball coaches.
Nevada president Milton Glick said the annual dollar amounts and terms of the contracts don't change. Campus officials say because of their successful programs, there is a risk either or both could be lured away by another school.
"Both of them had excellent years," Glick said. "We believe they are deserving of a three year contract."
The board approved his request to offer Kim Gervasoni a three-year contract as the Women's Head Basketball Coach at a base salary of $100,217.
University officials said under Gervasoni's leadership, the program has improved by five wins each of the past three years. At the same time, the team's average academic performance has improved from 2.76 in the spring of 2005 to 2.93 in the spring of 2006.
Devin Scruggs was awarded a three year contract as the Women's Head Volleyball Coach. She has taken the team to the NCAA tournament four of the last five years while raising average academic performance from 2.08 in the spring of 2005 to 3.29 in the spring of 2006.
Her base salary will be $77,000.
Both contracts contain the same incentives: Merit and cost of living raises each year, $1,000 if either wins Western Athletic Conference coach of the year and up to 50 percent of monthly pay for each round of the NCAA post season play the team reaches.
•Contact Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750