UI offers Perry new contract

University of Idaho men’s basketball coach Leonard Perry, who has turned around a sagging program in his first three seasons, will be rewarded with a new four-year contract, pending approval of the state board of education.

“I’m excited beyond words,” Perry said, “because I know what we’ve put into the program and the community. To be able to see it through is the first thing I’m elated about. The second thing is the administration understands the culture of the program is alive and well and growing daily.”

Perry, who replaced Dave Farrar, has guided Idaho to three straight Big West Tournament appearances and the Vandals won their first ever Big West tourney game last year before falling in the semifinals. Farrar was fired after Idaho went 6-21 in 2000-01. Perry is 35-49 in three seasons, including 13-15 marks the last two seasons.

“In the win-loss column, I don’t feel like we’ve done anything, but internally we’ve got the program on solid ground,” Perry said. “I’m in a very select group of head coaches who live to see a second contract.”

Idaho and Perry have agreed on contract terms. It’s expected to go before the state board in September.

Perry’s original three-year contract started at a base salary of $150,000 with the possibility of earning $16,700 more in incentives. The base salary in Perry’s new contract is expected to be close to $170,000 and he has an opportunity to earn more if he meets additional incentives. The contract contains a buyout clause should Perry leave for another job, UI athletic director Rob Spear said.

“It’s important to have continuity and retention in the program and Leonard’s done a great job,” Spear said. “He’s taken us from a situation that wasn’t very good when he came in to fourth in the conference last year. And he’s had a 100 percent graduation rate of all the seniors that have stayed on his teams.”