UNLV-Tarkanian Deal Discussed : College basketball: Coach would be allowed to stay at helm for one more season, sources say.

A deal that would give embattled Nevada Las Vegas basketball Coach Jerry Tarkanian one more season before resigning has been discussed by Tarkanian’s representatives and UNLV officials.

However, there is no certainty that such a deal will be implemented, and sources said it could fall through as a result of publicity.

Tarkanian and his attorneys met with members of the University of Nevada System Board of Regents in a closed session for five hours Monday to discuss the conduct of the basketball program.

While declining to comment on the specifics of the discussion, several board members said Tuesday that any decision regarding Tarkanian’s job would be made by UNLV President RobertMaxson, who also attended the meeting.

Tarkanian and Maxson are expected to meet this week, possibly today.

UNLV recently responded to an official letter of inquiry from the NCAA that outlined 29 areas of alleged rules violations in the basketball program, among them a lack of institutional control. The school has faced a barrage of negative publicity stemming from the program in the last few months.

The controversy was heated by the publication of photographs in the Las Vegas Review-Journal May 26, showing former Rebel players Moses Scurry, David Butler and Anderson Hunt socializing with convicted sports fixer Richard Perry.

The photos reportedly were taken near the start of the 1989-90 season, shortly after Tarkanian was said to have told his players to stay away from Perry.

The Associated Press reported Tuesday that a deal has been worked out whereby Tarkanian would coach one of the two years left on his contract.

Under terms of that alleged deal, UNLV would not be obligated to buy out the final year of Tarkanian’s contract, which pays him more than $400,000 in base salary and complimentary tickets to UNLV basketball games.

According to one source, Tarkanian and his attorneys proposed the deal as an option atthe Monday meeting with the regents.

Maxson has expressed an interest in the proposal, sources said, because it would allow UNLV and Tarkanian to part ways with a minimum of trauma, removing financial and legal hurdlesthat might otherwise be present.

Tarkanian’s contract calls for his automatic dismissal in the event that he is tied to a major NCAA violation, but his attorneys have argued that nothing has come to light that would be grounds for his dismissal under that provision.

At a speaking engagement Tuesday, Tarkanian denied that a deal is in the works, but acknowledged that his career might soon take a new direction.

“As you know, I’ve been going through a pretty tough time lately,” he said.

“Pretty soon, I’m going to decide what direction I’m going in.”