Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, December 25, 1993                   TAG: 9312250022
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: HOLIDAY 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NORFOLK                                LENGTH: Short

OLD DOMINION'S PURNELL GETS CONTRACT EXTENSION THROUGH '98

Purnell's base salary for the 1993-94 season is $97,000, according to figures provided by ODU athletic director Jim Jarrett. He also earns $15,000 for a television show, $10,000 for a radio show and has additional income from summer basketball camps and a shoe contract.

Purnell, the former Radford University coach, was in the third year of his original four-year deal with ODU. He led the school to the NCAA Tournament and the postseason NIT in his first two seasons.

Under Purnell, the Monarchs are 41-26. They were getting votes for a Top 25 ranking this season after a 5-0 start but have lost three straight since then.

Jarrett said Thursday that work on extending Purnell's contract started in April. The extension is retroactive to July 1.

"Our reason is, we want to keep him at Old Dominion, and he's very marketable," Jarrett said. "He's done a good job turning around the program, and by showing him we want to keep him we have a good chance of doing that."

Jarrett also said that Wendy Larry, head women's basketball coach, received a 33 percent pay raise this year. She is in the final year of her contract, which this year will pay her an $80,000 base salary. She also receives $1,000 each for radio and TV shows.