ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, June 7, 1996 TAG: 9606070034
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.
SOURCE: Associated Press
Failing to get Rick Pitino to become their coach, the New Jersey Nets took the next best thing - Massachusetts coach and Pitino protege John Calipari.
And for a lot less money.
Calipari and the Nets reached a tentative agreement Wednesday night on a five-year, $15 million contract, team president Michael Rowe said Thursday.
The Nets, long one of the NBA's doormats and intent on reshaping their image, are to announce Calipari's hiring at a news conference today. The agreement comes a week after Pitino rejected a $25 million offer to become the Nets' coach, general manager and part-owner.
It also comes two days after scandal rocked the UMass program Calipari built into a national power and guided to the NCAA's Final Four this year.
Marcus Camby, the Minutemen's best player, admitted accepting improper gifts from an agent during the season, a violation of NCAA rules that could lead to sanctions.
Calipari, 37, denied the problem influenced his decision to leave the college ranks for the NBA.
``As a matter of fact, if I felt that there was something we'd have to fight, I would never leave the university,'' Calipari told WBZ-TV of Boston on Wednesday night before deciding to accept the Nets' offer.
Calipari owed his UMass job to Pitino, a UMass graduate who championed Calipari's cause on the 1988 search committee that hired him.
Calipari held initial talks with Rowe on May 31 in Providence, R.I., discussing the coaching position, team philosophy and the stability of the Nets' ownership, Rowe said.
Craig Fenech, Calipari's agent, told Rowe his client was interested in the job Sunday and the two sides held negotiations late Monday and Tuesday, with talks breaking off late Tuesday.
``What they wanted and what we wanted in terms of language and dollars, we just couldn't get close enough,'' Rowe said Thursday.
Rowe said he telephoned the agent Wednesday around 4 p.m. to see if there was any movement. Fenech said no, and Rowe scheduled interviews with other candidates Thursday.
Three hours later, Rowe said Fenech called him back with renewed interest. Talks then progressed quickly and an agreement was reached around 11:30 p.m.
``I don't know if I'm surprised he was available,'' Rowe said. ``I'm pleased he was available.''
Fenech said Calipari was intrigued by the challenge of coaching the Nets, a team that posted a record of 30-52 and missed the playoffs each of the past two years under Butch Beard, who was fired in May.
``Everybody wants to test themselves at the highest level,'' said Fenech, who also spoke with Philadelphia 76ers officials on Calipari's behalf. ``He knew someday he would, but he didn't know if it would be this year, next year or when. We just knew it eventually would.''
Under Calipari, the Minutemen have gone 193-71 and won the past five Atlantic 10 Conference regular-season and tournament championships. This past season, UMass went 35-2, losing to Pitino's Kentucky Wildcats in an NCAA semifinal.
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. John Calipari is leaving UMass for a five-year dealby CNBwith the New Jersey Nets. color. KEYWORDS: BASKETBALL