UNLV basketball: Marvin Menzies contract less than expected

UNLV is getting a bargain with hiring New Mexico State's Marvin Menzies. The initial contract details were reported to be on par with what Chris Beard was getting, a five-year deal worth $5.7 million.

Menzies deal is still five years but totals out to $3.7 million overall. He will receiver $700,000 in the first three years and then it increases to $800,000 in his final years. The school has not commented on the deal but the information is available on the Nevada System of Higher Education website earlier this week.

The contract that is on the table also was added to the agenda for the special meeting with the University of Nevada Board of Regents which is Friday morning.

Menzies gets a hefty raise as he was making $391,000 as the head coach at New Mexico State. His salary can get even higher if he meets certain benchmarks. For example, he can earn an additional $200,000 in his first three years if ticket sales hit $3.6 million and if that goal is reached in his fourth and fifth year his bonus increases to $250,000 each season.

There is then the standard regular season conference and tournament titles and also for advancing each round throughout the NCAA Tournament. The former two are worth $30,000 and $15,000 bonus for NCAA win and $5,000 for each NIT win, and then a $60,000 bonus if the Rebels win the national title.

The buyout for Menzies contract is also less than Beard which is $500,000 plus the rest of his base pay in the first year, the lump sum decreases to $250,000 in the second year and then in the final three years the buyout is the base pay of the contract.

While UNLV does not get their first -- or second, or third coach for that matter -- choice but they do get a good coach in Menzies, an extra million and are paying him less. Not that any of this will matter unless the Rebels get victories in Las Vegas.