Tennessee reaches deal to keep Pearl as Vols coach

KNOXVILLE — A few nerve-wracking hours for University of Tennessee men’s basketball fans never rattled those closest to the program, and a Thursday night release squashed rumors that Coach Bruce Pearl was leaving the program.

Pearl, UT interim president Jan Simek and men’s athletic director Mike Hamilton confirmed reports from earlier in the afternoon that the coach planned to sign a restructured contract and stay with the Volunteers.

Details of the new, six-year deal will be released “in the coming days,” according to the release, but several sources in the athletic department said Pearl and his staff will receive pay bumps.

Pearl’s current contract features a gradually-increasing salary that averages out to approximately $2.3 million per season. Thursday reports from West Tennessee media that Memphis offered him $21 million for seven years were refuted, but two sources close to the Memphis program told The Times Free Press that Pearl would have been offered a raise from his UT salary.

“Mike has been terrifically supportive and committed to making this one of the best jobs in all of college basketball,” Pearl said. “I want to ensure the University of Tennessee and its fans that I’m 100 percent committed to this school, this program and our student-athletes.

“My staff and I are building a consistent top-25 program, and I’m honored and privileged to serve the greatest fans in the country. Tennessee has all the resources necessary to win championships.”

UT failed to win an NCAA tournament game this year for the first time in Pearl’s four seasons, as the No. 9 seed Vols lost in the final seconds to No. 8 seed Oklahoma State.

Pearl’s first three seasons with UT included five NCAA tournament wins, two Sweet Sixteen appearances, the program’s first No. 1 national ranking and first outright Southeastern Conference championship in 41 years.

Jones likely gone

Thursday’s news wasn’t all positive for the Vols.

Tony Jones, Pearl’s top UT aide, “appears” to be on the verge of taking the head coaching position at Boston University, according to a report in The Boston Globe.

“Barring any last-minute snags in a deal that is expected to be completed in the next few days, an official announcement could come next week,” the Globe reported on its Web site.

Jones, a Detroit native, has been with Pearl for eight seasons — four at UT and four at Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He’s interviewed for multiple head coaching positions the past few years, including Marshall and Tennessee State. Jones has several responsibilities for the Vols, including scheduling and in-game substitutions.