PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Jim Harrick, who coached UCLA to the 1995 NCAA basketball title before being fired in a recruiting scandal, has accepted a contract offer from Rhode Island, a source in the Rams’ athletic department confirmed today.
The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press that Harrick agreed to a three-year contract with a base salary of $125,000 and incentives making it worth up to about $250,000.
That is the richest contract in school history and makes Harrick Rhode Island’s highest-paid state employee.
Sports information director Mike Ballweg declined to discuss Harrick, but said the school planned a 4 p.m. news conference. He did confirm the school has interviewed only one candidate and no other interviews are scheduled.
The Rhode Island job opened two weeks ago when Al Skinner left for Boston College after posting consecutive 20-victory seasons.
A search committee was formed and many applications were received, but athletic director Ron Petro chose to contact Harrick.
Harrick applied, then visited the campus last week. He met with president Robert Carothers, Petro, the team, boosters and others, including Gov. Lincoln Almond.
The search committee unanimously recommended Harrick for the job, and forwarded its finding to Carothers, who spent several days conducting his own investigation into Harrick’s background.
As Carothers was making inquiries about Harrick, some people in the school’s community urged against hiring someone fired from his last job for violating an NCAA rule.
Harrick, 59, lost his job at UCLA after attempting to cover up a recruiting violation. The incident involved a dinner Harrick had with three recruits and five Bruins players, two more than allowed under NCAA rules.
On his expense account, Harrick lied about how many people were in attendance. He later apologized and admitted a mistake in judgment, but said he did not deserve to be fired and accused UCLA athletic director Peter Dalis of being “out to get me.”
Harrick, 358-160 as a college coach, began his career at Morningside High School in Los Angeles in 1964. After a stint at Utah State, he moved to UCLA as an assistant, then became head coach at Pepperdine in 1979, where he had one losing season in nine years.
UCLA hired Harrick in 1988 and he won 20 or more games and made the NCAA tournament each of his eight seasons.
Harrick to coach at Rhode Island
Published May 6, 1997
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