The University of Texas won't buy out coach John Mackovic's three-year, $1.8 million contract, and he's unlikely to be fired, university officials say.

However, he might become the highest-paid associate athletic director in school history if he does not remain as football coach.There's nothing in the contract that Mackovic agreed to in January 1996 that provides for an early buyout, the Austin American-Statesman reported today, because UT policy prohibits a buyout. But a reassignment is possible.

There has been mounting speculation that university alumni might raise the money to buy out the contract of the embattled coach, whose Longhorns are 3-5 and tied for last in the Big 12 South football standings.

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