Mark Fox: 'This is where I'm gonna coach'

Georgia men’s basketball coach Mark Fox confirmed that he and athletics director Greg McGarity have discussed a new contract. Fox said they had an “initial conversation,” and would “finish up our discussion” once offseason matters such as Leslie’s status were concluded.

McGarity, who was sitting a few feet away, nodded in agreement.

“I don’t want anyone thinking I’m leaving anywhere, because this is where I’m gonna coach,” Fox said.

His current deal pays him a base salary of $1.3 million through the 2015 season. That annual salary puts him in the lower half of SEC head basketball coaches.

Georgia went 21-12 this past year, Fox’s second at the school. That followed up a 14-17 opening year, after Fox was hired from Nevada.

Among the new hires around the region and SEC, Fox said he knows Georgia Tech’s Brian Gregory and Arkansas’ Mike Anderson. He spoke with Gregory at the Final Four.

“Brian’s a good man,” Fox said. “He’s been a friend for awhile. I think he’s excited for his opportunity over there at Tech.”