Vegas Wows Wac

A $1 million guarantee was enough to convince Western Athletic Conference athletic directors to have Las Vegas host the conference’s postseason basketball tournaments beginning in 1997.

Las Vegas tourism officials promised to pay the conference $1 million a year for the two-year contract for the men’s and women’s tournaments, with the city holding an option for 1999.

The agreement, which still must be approved by the WAC Presidents Council, was approved Monday by WAC athletic directors meeting in San Diego.

Craig Carse, 38, who recruited Shaquille O’Neal to Louisiana State University, was hired as basketball coach at Montana State-Billings.

Carse replaces Gary Bays, who went 41-70 in four years. Former Eastern Washington assistant Rusty Smith also applied at Billings.