Tarkanian to retire Oct. 4, will get full pay under initial contract

By Eddie Hughes

Jerry Tarkanian will retire from his position as senior development consultant for the Save Mart Center Oct. 4, Fresno State announced Monday.

Tarkanian’s position is one of 10.5 management positions being eliminated by the university because of statewide budget cuts, said Peter Smits, vice president for university advancement.

“ Really, there wasn’t any other place to put me right now,” Tarkanian said.

Smits said Tarkanian was on the state payroll and Tarkanian’s contract is “being bought out.” The contract would have expired in April 2004.

Tarkanian signed a two-year, $120,000 contract, Smits said, after retiring as Fresno State men’s basketball coach March 15, 2002.

“ They honored their commitment,” Tarkanian said.

Smits said Tarkanian will continue to help as a volunteer.

“ It was really great working with the people at the Save Mart Center,” Tarkanian said. “They were wonderful.”

The decision to eliminate Tarkanian’s position comes during an ongoing NCAA investigation into violations within the men’s basketball program that occurred during his tenure as coach. The NCAA decision will either approve of Fresno State’s self-imposed sanctions or impose additional penalties.

John Welty, university president, placed the athletic department on two years of probabtion, reduced the number of men’s basketball scholarships by three from 2004-06 and banned the team from the 2003 postseason.

The university also announced Monday that the arena builder and personal seat liscense office will close Sept. 30. Seat operations responsibilities will be transferred to the athletic department.

The Save Mart Center, Fresno State’s new 16,000-seat, on-campus arena, will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 27.

Tarkanian, who said he found out about the elimination of his management position about three weeks ago, will begin a radio position at Clear Channel Communications Nov. 1 as the host of “The Jerry Tarkanian Show” for the second basketball season.