U regents table coaching contract approval proposal

University of Minnesota Regents don't have the power to veto major coaching contracts just yet.

A proposal that would have required Regents approval for any non-faculty contract exceeding the university president's base salary (currently $610,000) got referred to another committee Friday.

The proposal originated in March over some regents' concerns with Gophers men's basketball coach Richard Pitino's contract, which includes a $7.1 million buyout. After discussion at the March and May Regents meetings, the proposal passed the board's governance committee Thursday.

The proposal was up for a vote by the full board Friday. But Regent Patricia Simmons requested that the proposal be tabled, so the faculty and student affairs committee could discuss the matter at its next meeting. The regents voted and agreed to refer it to that committee, which isn't scheduled to meet again until September.