KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl has a newly renegotiated six-year contract keeping him with the Volunteers.
It came hours after reports surfaced that Memphis wanted to talk to Pearl about replacing John Calipari, who left for Kentucky.
Interim president Jan Simek and athletic director Mike Hamilton announced Thursday night that they and Pearl had agreed in principle to the new deal. Details will be released within the next few days.
Pearl said in a statement that Hamilton has been supportive and committed to making Tennessee one of college basketball’s best jobs.
“I want to ensure the University of Tennessee and its fans that I’m 100 percent committed to this school, this program and our student-athletes,” Pearl said.”I truly love my job, and I want it to be clear that I’m not interested in any other job. There’s no place in the country I’d rather be than the University of Tennessee.”
This is similar to what happened last year when Pearl was linked to openings at Indiana and other schools. Tennessee unveiled a six-year deal last July that paid him $1.6 million for the 2009-09 season with an average of $2.3 million a year.
Butler’s Stevens to stay
INDIANAPOLIS – Butler coach Brad Stevens has agreed to a contract extension with the Bulldogs through the 2015-16 season.
The new contract announced Thursday adds one year to the contract Stevens signed a year ago. Terms of the new deal were not disclosed.
The 32-year-old Stevens is one of the youngest coaches in Division I. He is 56-10 record in two seasons as Butler coach, winning the Horizon League regular-season championship and taking the Bulldogs to the NCAA tournament both years.
Butler was 26-6 last season, losing to LSU in the first round of the tourney.
Stevens played at nearby DePauw.