Sunday, March 31, 2013
New Mexico hires Steve Lavin
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By Andy Katz
ESPN.com
New Mexico hired St. John’s coach Steve Lavin on Sunday, moving with lightening speed to replace Steve Alford, who was hired by UCLA on Saturday.
"It's been a difficult morning to tell a team that I dearly love and a team and built last three years," Lavin said in a Sunday afternoon news conference in Queens, New York. "I'm proud of my time and the opportunity given at St.John’s. I very much look forward to taking the helm at New Mexico."
New Mexico athletic director Paul Krebs said in a conference call that Lavin will receive a seven-year, $18.2 million contract. Krebs said Lavin will be paid $2.6 million a year plus a $200,000 signing bonus and that Lavin would have to pay a buyout to St. John’s but that New Mexico would work with him.
Lavin will be introduced by the Lobos at a news conference in Albuquerque on Tuesday.
"Anyone suited for a pressure job like this it's Steve,'' Krebs said. "He’s coached in Los Angeles and in New York, so he’s been under the brightest lights. The state of New Mexico and University of New Mexico takes their basketball seriously. He's not the kind of guy who will shy away from what expectations are about at New Mexico. He'll handle this with dignity, class and he's ready for this.''
"We return everybody,'' Lavin said. "We return the entire starting five of a 29-6 team. This has been one of the premier programs out West. It wasn't something easy to do, to look at the young men in the face. I think they understand that this was something I had to do for my family.
Lavin said he wasn't sure on the numbers of his buyout and who would pay for it. He said his new deal didn't take into effect until Monday.
Krebs made it clear that he wanted to have a coach who played an exciting style, would help fill the seats at The Pit and represented the university and student-athletes well. Lavin has a good chance to make all of that happen if he coaches in a similar fashion at New Mexico as he did at St. John’s.
"Steve is the perfect fit for New Mexico," Krebs said. "He is part of the storied history of the game of college basketball and understands the tradition and uniqueness of New Mexico. Yet he also connects with a new generation of players and brings an up-tempo and team-oriented brand of basketball to Albuquerque. We welcome Steve and his family to the Lobos family and look forward to many years of success."
Lavin returns to the West, which he has recruited well over the years. He goes from one pressure situation to another. The head coach at UNM carries with it high expectations based on the focus in the state on the job. The Pit has consistently been one of the best home courts in the country and well attended as any other school.
New Mexico hires Steve Lavin
________________________________________
By Andy Katz
ESPN.com
New Mexico hired St. John’s coach Steve Lavin on Sunday, moving with lightening speed to replace Steve Alford, who was hired by UCLA on Saturday.
"It's been a difficult morning to tell a team that I dearly love and a team and built last three years," Lavin said in a Sunday afternoon news conference in Queens, New York. "I'm proud of my time and the opportunity given at St.John’s. I very much look forward to taking the helm at New Mexico."
New Mexico athletic director Paul Krebs said in a conference call that Lavin will receive a seven-year, $18.2 million contract. Krebs said Lavin will be paid $2.6 million a year plus a $200,000 signing bonus and that Lavin would have to pay a buyout to St. John’s but that New Mexico would work with him.
Lavin will be introduced by the Lobos at a news conference in Albuquerque on Tuesday.
"Anyone suited for a pressure job like this it's Steve,'' Krebs said. "He’s coached in Los Angeles and in New York, so he’s been under the brightest lights. The state of New Mexico and University of New Mexico takes their basketball seriously. He's not the kind of guy who will shy away from what expectations are about at New Mexico. He'll handle this with dignity, class and he's ready for this.''
"We return everybody,'' Lavin said. "We return the entire starting five of a 29-6 team. This has been one of the premier programs out West. It wasn't something easy to do, to look at the young men in the face. I think they understand that this was something I had to do for my family.
Lavin said he wasn't sure on the numbers of his buyout and who would pay for it. He said his new deal didn't take into effect until Monday.
Krebs made it clear that he wanted to have a coach who played an exciting style, would help fill the seats at The Pit and represented the university and student-athletes well. Lavin has a good chance to make all of that happen if he coaches in a similar fashion at New Mexico as he did at St. John’s.
"Steve is the perfect fit for New Mexico," Krebs said. "He is part of the storied history of the game of college basketball and understands the tradition and uniqueness of New Mexico. Yet he also connects with a new generation of players and brings an up-tempo and team-oriented brand of basketball to Albuquerque. We welcome Steve and his family to the Lobos family and look forward to many years of success."
Lavin returns to the West, which he has recruited well over the years. He goes from one pressure situation to another. The head coach at UNM carries with it high expectations based on the focus in the state on the job. The Pit has consistently been one of the best home courts in the country and well attended as any other school.
