More UW perks for Romar?

Lorenzo Romar, the Washington men's basketball coach, already has a contract that runs through 2013.

But that isn't stopping Huskies athletic director Todd Turner from working on a new deal for Romar that will make it even harder for the coach who has led UW to two straight Sweet 16s to leave the school.

"We're working on it," Turner said Tuesday when asked about the possibility of a new contract for Romar, who has coached at UW for four seasons.

Romar, who has given no indication he wants to leave Washington, said earlier this week he turned down a chance to talk with the Sacramento Kings about the NBA team's recent vacancy.

Turner said the new contract talks with Romar weren't spurred by Sacramento's interest in Romar but said that indicated further why he feels it is important to make Romar feel appreciated at Washington.

"What I've told him is that he can achieve his life's dreams here at Washington, so we are working on it," Turner said.

Turner would not reveal specifics of talks or whether Romar will be offered more years, more money, or both, nor when a new deal might be completed.

Romar, who played at Washington from 1978 to 1980 and returned as head coach in 2002, agreed to a new eight-year contract worth an estimated $1 million a year in March 2005.

Bob Condotta: 206-515-5699 or bcondotta@seattletimes.com