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Sports
Dec. 09, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

CORRECTION: UNLV football coach Mike Sanford’s annual salary is $431,000, not $413,000 as was reported in Tuesday’s Review-Journal.

Sanford agrees to contract extension

UNLV football coach gets deal through 2012

By MARK ANDERSON
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
More Info
SANFORD’S RECORD
Mike Sanford’s record as UNLV football coach:

YEAR, RECORD
2005, 2-9
2006, 2-10
2007, 2-10
2008, 5-7
TOTAL, 11-36


UNLV football coach Mike Sanford

After Mike Sanford's best season in four years as UNLV's football coach, he was given a vote of confidence that was more than lip service.

Sanford has agreed in principle to a three-year contract extension, athletic director Mike Hamrick said Monday.

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    • Hamrick declined to provide further information because details are being finalized, and any agreement would have to be approved by the Board of Regents early next year.

    Including the year remaining on his current contract, the extension essentially gives Sanford a four-year deal through 2012. One athletic department source said a buyout clause, a standard part of such contracts, would include a "reasonable" dollar figure.

    Sanford, who couldn't be reached for comment, has an annual salary of $431,000.

    "I think it's critical to have an extension (because of) where our football program currently is from the standpoint of recruiting going into next year, security for the assistant coaches and all those things," Hamrick said.

    Sanford has an 11-36 record with the Rebels, winning only two games per season until the team finished 5-7 this year.

    The contract extension was widely anticipated, especially after Hamrick and Sanford met for two hours on Dec. 1 to discuss the direction of the program.

    The Rebels' record this year was their best since the 2003 team finished 6-6. But the season ended in disappointment when the Rebels lost at underdog San Diego State 42-21 on Nov. 22. That prevented UNLV from becoming bowl eligible, making it eight years since the Rebels have made the postseason. They played in the 2000 Las Vegas Bowl.

    But Hamrick saw enough improvement to grant the contract extension, and recruits have noticed the steps forward as well. This is shaping up to be Sanford's best class.

    He has received commitments from six players ranked among the top 125 at their positions, according to Scout.com. The recruiting service ranks UNLV's class fourth in the Mountain West Conference behind Brigham Young, Utah and Texas Christian.

    Now that Sanford's immediate future is secure, he has choices to make about his coaching staff. He said he has not put a timetable on any decisions, but offseason changes -- either by Sanford or on an assistant's part -- has been routine.

    Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914.

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    fa'get about'it wrote on December 11, 2008 07:42 AM: So what you are saying is that freshman players are going to make the difference and revive this dead horse? DUH...WRONG!


    Runstopper wrote on December 10, 2008 10:40 PM: Can every one just give this up coming 2009 class a chance. I feel with all the new recruit coming in that UNLV will be winners very soon . Coach Patterson is the real deal getting kids from across the country coming in this is outstanding. LB Horace Miller 6'1" 215lbs and CB Courtney Bridget Jr. 6'3' 190lbs .


    SteelerSteve wrote on December 10, 2008 03:23 PM: The Rebels will have a winning team next year! I'm predicting wins against Sac State, Hawaii, Colorado State, SDSU, Wyoming, New Mexico and Air Force.


    Unbeweevable wrote on December 09, 2008 10:13 PM: The picture of Sanford with a smirk on his face below his horrible accomplishment as a masquerading division 1 coach. That is how he looks when he backs up to take his paycheck. He has no conscious or he would have done the right thing and resigned.


    henry thomas wrote on December 09, 2008 08:45 PM: I feel sorry for our community who want to see unlv with a winning football program. We will settle for keeping a coach who has under performed with a 4 year losing record instead of seeking a coach who can truly recruit and make good coaching decisions in a game. The guy can flat out, not coach very well. Has anyone been to a unlv football game lately? I have. I blame our Athletic Director and Board of Regents Administration for allowing this man an extension.SANFORD SHOULD BE FIRED PERIOD!!! If we were going to spend money let's do it on a winner, not a proven loser.If the Administration is going to continue to make these kinds of decision,let's just do away with the football program.It's wasting our (community) time and money.


    fa'get about'it wrote on December 09, 2008 07:14 PM: The only way this program gets turned around is about 1 mil to pay for a real live COACH, and that aint' happenin'


    Steelers#1 wrote on December 09, 2008 07:01 PM: I agree with the post by Matt who basically said it all by stating, "UNLV football will always be bad."

    Get a clue...


    ReallityCheck wrote on December 09, 2008 05:13 PM: Here's the truth and nothing but the truth? UNLV and all of it's wealthy supporters will never ante up the MOOLAH it takes to get a bonafide Football Coach, PERIOD! The top 50 coaches salary ranges from 900,000 up to 4 million. Nick Saban being the highest paid. So for the peanuts they are paying Sanford, UNLV gets at best, half a coach.


    what? wrote on December 09, 2008 04:38 PM: Why build a stadium if no one fills the current one???


    kracs wrote on December 09, 2008 03:56 PM: you have got to be f**king kidding


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