Aug. 28, 2002

LAS VEGAS - UNLV men's basketball head coach Charlie Spoonhour, who led the Runnin' Rebels to a 21-11 record and a postseason appearance last season, has received a one-year contract extension, athletics director John Robinson announced Wednesday.

Spoonhour, who is entering his second year of a three-year deal, is now signed through the 2004-05 season.

"We were very pleased with Charlie's first season here," Robinson said. "We are excited to extend his contract and by doing so are able to provide more stability for our returning players and enhance recruiting. We are happy to have him and are looking forward to the future of men's basketball at UNLV."

Spoonhour's base salary will be $140,400 in 2002-03 and 2003-04. His base salary for the 2004-05 season will be mutually agreed upon at the conclusion of the 2003-04 season.

"I am very pleased that Dr. (Carol) Harter and John (Robinson) have offered this extension," Spoonhour said. "I had a very pleasant year here and received a great deal of cooperation from everyone. We were fortunate to take over a situation where there had been a solid foundation established and we look forward to continuing the progress we made last year."

In Spoonhour's first year at UNLV, his team finished third in the Mountain West Conference with a 9-5 mark and made it to the championship game of the Mountain West Conference Tournament. The team was invited to the National Invitation Tournament and defeated Arizona State in the first round before falling to South Carolina to end its season.

For his efforts, Spoonhour was awarded with the 2002 United States Basketball Writers Association's District VIII Coach of the Year award.

In 17 seasons as a Division I head coach, Spoonhour has earned a career mark of 340-182 (.651).