X-DoNotUse-Sports

UNLV Prez, Pitino Meet

February 8, 2001 / 4:42 PM EST / CBS/AP

UNLV's courtship of Rick Pitino heated up Friday when the former Boston Celtics coach met with university president Carol Harter to discuss coaching the Runnin' Rebels.

Harter described Pitino as "upbeat about his ability" to take on the UNLV job, and said discussions over the coaching position would continue.

"UNLV made no formal offer of employment to the coach, nor did the coach seek one," Harter said in a prepared statement. "We do, however, intend now to continue such discussions, and expect a definitive resolution to this matter at the conclusion of the current season."

Harter was joined by athletic director Charles Cavagnaro in the meeting with Pitino in the Los Angeles area, where Pitino was scheduled to tape a television show.

Pitino said last week that he was looking forward to meeting with Harter to see if the university was committed to having a championship basketball program.

Pitino resigned Jan. 8 as coach of the Boston Celtics, who were floundering with a 12-22 record. Since that time, the team has gone 10-5 under former assistant Jim O'Brien and won seven of its last eight games.

UNLV's season could be over in just a few weeks unless the university wins its appeal of a ban on postseason play imposed by the NCAA in December as part of a four-year probation for the basketball program.

Harter and other university officials were in Chicago on Wednesday to appeal to the NCAA, arguing that current players should not be punished for recruiting violations that go back to 1996 and 1997.

Harter fired coach Bill Bayno following the NCAA sanctions, and elevated assistant Max Good to the top job. The Rebels are 13-9, but Good is not likely to return next season.