Source: Kevin Ollie contract close
UConn coach Kevin Ollie and the university are on the verge of finalizing a new five-year contract that will be close to $3 million a year, a source with direct knowledge told ESPN Monday.
Ollie coached the Huskies to the national title last month with a 60-54 victory over Kentucky, the school's fourth since 1999. Ollie was in the second year of a five-year contract. The source said that contract will be replaced with this new one once it is finalized. There is no timetable for an announcement but the hope is that it can be done this week.
The contract will more than double Ollie's previous salary. He was paid $1.25 million this past season. Ollie was originally given a seven-month contract when he replaced Hall of Fame coach Jim Calhoun in September of 2012. But three months later, he was given a five-year contract worth an estimated $7.5 million.
The new deal is projected to make Ollie the highest paid coach in the American Athletic Conference.
The source said that no NBA team called UConn officials seeking permission to speak with Ollie, although an NBA team could have easily called Ollie's representatives.
The source said UConn first approached Ollie after the Huskies beat Iowa State in the Sweet 16 in Madison Square Garden. But the two sides didn't get together until well after the Final Four.
Yahoo Sports reported that Ollie and UConn agreed in principle to a $3 million-plus annual contract extension earlier Monday.
Ollie has repeatedly made overtures that he wanted to stay with the Huskies over the past month, despite reports that the Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers and possibly others would be in pursuit of his services.
Shabazz Napier, the MVP of the Final Four, said at the Chicago NBA combine last week that he anticipated Ollie would stay with the Huskies.
UConn will likely be predicted to finish in the top three again in the American, possibly behind SMU, and a spot in the top 25 with the return of Ryan Boatright, the eligibility of transfer Rodney Purvis from NC State and big man Amida Brimah returning to form the core of the team.
UConn will play Duke at the IZOD Center in New Jersey next December, as well as high-profile non-conference games at Florida, Stanford, hosting Texas and playing in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off next season.
The Huskies, along with the national champion women's basketball team, are tentatively scheduled to make an appearance at the White House to meet with President Barack Obama in June.
Senior Writer, ESPN.com
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