Kevin Ollie knows his name is on a list compiled by the Los Angeles Lakers for their next head coach, but he would rather stay put at the University of Connecticut.
Ollie told the Associated Press Thursday at the New York Athletic Club he is doing nothing more than listening to teams' reported interest in him. He said he does not have any intention right now to leave the coaching job he holds at his alma mater.
"I love this university," Ollie said. "I am not looking for another job. Of course, you listen to different things. I got two ears, I'm going to listen, but I'm not running out there soliciting any other job. I want to be here at the University of Connecticut."
Both he and Geno Auriemma, the UConn women's basketball coach, picked up Winged Foot Awards for each winning the National Championship this past season.
After his NCAA Tournament run, Ollie made $1.6 million in a contract worth $7 million that lasts four more seasons. UConn has already reportedly made its interest in giving Ollie a raise known, but the coach also said he hopes he can work out a new deal soon.
"We are talking and hopefully we can get together once all this quiets down," Ollie told the AP. "Have a nice talk and hopefully get everything situated.
"I'm going to be the UConn coach, nothing's changed."
He said he has assured his recruits he is not going anywhere, despite media reports stating the Lakers plan to court Ollie. ESPN reported earlier this month UConn is planning to double Ollie's annual salary to give him as much as $2.6 million.
UConn president Susan Herbst recently told the Hartford Courant the negotiations are not experiencing any roadblocks at this time.
"I know there is a lot of impatience," Herbst said. "But these are complex documents. It's going really well. Kevin is dedicated to UConn and we want to keep him here, but these guys are busy."
