BYU basketball: Cougs give Rose new five-year deal

PROVO — One thing BYU head basketball coach Dave Rose won't have to worry about for the next five years is job security.

Rose, whose future with the Cougars was uncertain for a few weeks last summer after being diagnosed with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor cancer, and BYU agreed to a new contract on Friday that takes him through the 2013-14 season. The deal replaces Rose's former deal that was set to expire next year.

"He's a great leader, he's a great teacher, he's great in the community, he's well respected nationally, his teams play with class and dignity, and people like him," BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe said. "He just showed an incredible amount of character, and courage and perseverance though this medical issue that he went through . . . all of those things add up to a guy that we want."

Since being named head coach on April 11, 2005, Rose has led the Cougars to at least 20 wins and a trip to the postseason in each of his four seasons. In the past three seasons Rose has guided the Cougars to three-consecutive Mountain West Conference regular season titles, three-straight trips to the NCAA Tournament and 25-plus wins each year.

"I just feel really fortunate. I'm grateful to the university, Tom Holmoe, and the athletic department. This is a great place," Rose said.

Rose was named MWC Coach of the Year in 2006 and 2007. At 97-34 and a .740 winning percentage, Rose is off to the best four-year start of any coach in BYU basketball history.

The university, not wanting to wait until Rose's former deal expired, approached Rose a couple of months ago and began negotiations. Basically, BYU wanted to lock Rose up for a longer period of time and make sure his salary was in line with his market value.

"What I'm really happy about is the fact that I think we've got really good young players in our program, and you go to a lot of work to recruit them, and you get them and sign them, and you want to coach them. So at least for now they know I'm going to be the coach for awhile, and that's good," Rose said.

As is BYU's policy, terms of the deal or Rose's new salary were not released, but Holmoe said Rose is getting a raise. Contract negotiations were fast and smooth.

"Most of the things that he wanted were things that we wanted, and the things that we wanted he wanted. So I think we're both on the same page philosophically and we're really pleased with the way he's running this program, so it's just a natural thing to keep him around," Holmoe said.

The deal also benefits Rose's assistants some, with incentives and bonuses for each, on Rose's insistence.

"We appreciate that," Holmoe said. "We like the fact that a coach is looking out for his assistants when looking at a contract for him . . . there were some nice things that we did that came at Dave's suggestion."

Rose is also the Honorary Chairman of the Children with Cancer Christmas Foundation and his wife Cheryl serves as the Vice Chairperson for the foundation. Rose's fight against cancer become more personal after being diagnosed with cancer himself. Since undergoing emergency surgery to remove the tumor, no other cancer has been found. Scans since the surgery by doctors at the Huntsman Cancer Institute have all come back clear.

e-mail: jimr@desnews.com