Kathy Olivier among 6 UNLV coaches who receive contract extensions

UNLV announced contract extensions for six coaches Friday, including one for women’s basketball coach Kathy Olivier through the 2020-21 season.

Olivier’s contract was up in April, and the school decided to wait until a new athletic director, Desiree Reed-Francois, was in place to make the extension official.

“I’ve been talking about it, talking about it, and they were just waiting for the right opportunity to make the announcement, so I wasn’t concerned about not getting renewed,” Olivier said. “I knew that it was going to happen, it was just a matter of time when it was going to happen.”

Olivier has a 138-146 record in nine seasons. The extension comes after a 22-11 season in which the Lady Rebels made the Women’s National Invitation Tournament and set a program record for Mountain West victories with 12.

The Lady Rebels open Nov. 10 against Portland State at Cox Pavilion.

“I’m in alum. I’m from here clearly. I played at UNLV,” Olivier said. “I just think what we’re doing here has been amazing, and I have surrounded myself with some incredible people, and that’s what makes my job good and I’m excited about that so I didn’t even really entertain any conversations.”

Also getting extensions were Rich Ryerson (men’s soccer), Chris Shaw (women’s soccer), Owen Hambrook (men’s tennis), Kevin Cory (women’s tennis) and Yvonne Wade (track and field and cross country).

“We are pleased that we were able to complete a negotiation process that began in the spring,” athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois said in a statement. “Our coaches provide the foundation for our student-athletes to excel academically, to relentlessly compete for championships and to serve as a point of pride and unity for our global UNLV community.”

UNLV coaching contract extensions

— Kathy Olivier, women’s basketball: through 2020-21 season

— Rich Ryerson, men’s soccer: through end of 2019

— Chris Shaw, women’s soccer: through end of 2019

— Owen Hambrook, men’s tennis: through 2018-19 academic year

— Kevin Cory, women’s tennis: through 2018-19 academic year

— Yvonne Wade, track and field/cross country: through 2018-19 academic year

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Contact Betsy Helfand at bhelfand@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BetsyHelfand on Twitter.