College Basketball

Report: Ollie agrees to deal to stay at UConn

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 12:52 p.m. ET

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Kevin Ollie is staying at UConn after agreeing to a contract extension worth more than $3 million a year, Yahoo! Sports reports.

The 41-year-old coach, who spent 13 years as an NBA journeyman before returning to his alma mater and winning the NCAA championship this year in his first trip to the postseason, had been linked to several NBA job openings, including with the Los Angeles Lakers. But he said he hadn't been soliciting job offers and wanted to stay at UConn.

''I love this university,'' Ollie said this month at the New York Athletic Club. ''I am not looking for another job. Of course, you listen to different things. I got two ears, I'm going to listen, but I'm not running out there soliciting any other job. I want to be here at the University of Connecticut.''

Ollie made just over $1.6 million, with bonuses for the NCAA tournament run, last season. His previous deal, worth just under $7 million, ran through the end of the 2017-18 season. Under his new deal, he reportedly could earn $15 million over five years.

According to ESPN, while an agreement is in place that would make Ollie the highest-paid coach in the American Athletic Conference, a deal had not yet been signed as the sides negotiated two issues — assistant coach salaries and student-athlete welfare issues. Regardless, the report said, the two sides hoped a deal would be finalized by Wednesday.

ESPN also reported that no NBA team had reached out to UConn about interviewing Ollie, but added that the coach's representatives could have been called.

Ollie recently was asked what he tells recruits about his future.

''I'm going to be the UConn coach, nothing's changed,'' he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.