New Lavin Deal in the Works

UCLA and Coach Steve Lavin continue to work toward a new long-term contract, with the possibility that the deal could be completed this week.

They are believed to be discussing a package that will be for five or six years and will include the prized rollover clause, meaning Lavin would always have that much time left on the contract, providing not only job security but also a sense of stability to show during recruiting. The base salary is expected to be about $575,000 annually, matching that of football Coach Bob Toledo.

Lavin has just completed his third season as Bruin coach and the first of a five-year deal that averaged $475,000 a year.

Lavin is 70-26 (.729) since replacing Jim Harrick on an interim basis and then getting the permanent job. He and the Bruins were 22-9 this season, an up-and-down run with a young team that ended with a 56-53 first-round NCAA tournament loss to Detroit Mercy.