Board approves extension for Fox

RENO - The board of Regents voted Thursday to extend Mark Fox's contract as the University of Nevada men's basketball coach another three years.

The system signed a five year contract with Fox last year. The new pact extends his base pay through June 30, 2014.

Nevada president Milton Glick said Fox requested the extension. He said Fox asked for only three things from the school: An extension for the contract, better academic support for his students and better practice facilities for the team.

Glick pointed out Fox led the Wolf Pack basketball team to a No. nine national ranking this past year and to NCAA appearances for the past three years.

The Wolf Pack has been the Western Athletic Conference regular season champions for the past three years and Fox was named WAC coach of the year all three years as well.

Fox's pay will remain at the same level set last year: A base of $400,000 a year set with $25,000 a year increases.

He also gets bonus pay for conference championships and NCAA appearances in the future, including up to a $25,000 bonus if the team reaches the Final Four in the NCAA tournament in coming years.

In addition, the board approved a five year contract for Nevada softball coach Michelle Gardner. Her base pay is $72,000 a year. But she can earn up to 50 percent of her base monthly salary for postseason play and $1,000 for winning conference coach of the year. Glick pointed out that, in her fourth year with the team, she led the Pack to a conference championship and a berth in the NCAA tournament.

The team won the WAC championship in 2005-2006 and upset nationally ranked Hawai'i to get the opportunity to play for the championship title this past year.