LITTLE ROCK — It’s been 16 days since Monte Coleman’s contract as Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s football coach expired.

He has yet to sign a new deal, and he and his bosses haven’t agreed on the specifics for one.

Coleman, 55, was still in his office Tuesday, just like he has been most of January, working to complete a recruiting class after leading UAPB to its first Southwestern Athletic Conference championship with nothing more than what he described as a “gentleman’s agreement” between him and Athletic Director Lonza Hardy, Jr.

“It hasn’t changed much,” Coleman said Tuesday. “We’re going through, putting together a great recruiting class. ... The agreement is that I’m still on the payroll.”

Coleman said he isn’t worried about his future at UAPB, despite the lack of written assurance he’ll be the Golden Lions’ coach next year. He called the hold-up — both Coleman and Hardy said last month they wanted a new deal done before the contract expired — a “big deal” but not one that makes him think his days at the school are coming to an end.

Coleman, who signed a five-year contract in December 2007 and has a 29-27 record over five seasons, said he talked with Hardy about the contract Monday. They have agreed on another five-year deal, Coleman said, but the hangup has been an increase in pay for Coleman and eight assistants.

“I’m not frustrated,” Cole- man said. “My wishes would have been that it would have been done back in December, but I’m not frustrated. We’re not far off. It’s just a matter of getting some of the logistics done.”

Coleman’s original contract called for him to make $120,000 last year. UAPB’s 2012 season, which included its first outright conference title and first 10-victory season, would have boosted his salary to $145,200 because of bonuses for winning the SWAC Western Division, finishing with a winning percentage better than .800 and earning conference coach of the year honors.

Coleman said the salary figure that has been discussed is “somewhere in that ballpark.”

Just as pressing for Coleman is a salary bump for his assistants.

Coleman said only Mississippi Valley State ranks lower than UAPB in the SWAC in its pay for assistant football coaches. According to U.S. Department of Education data, UAPB’s $1.71 million football budget in 2011-2012 ranked seventh in the 10-team SWAC, ahead of only Southern University of Baton Rouge, Jackson State and Mississippi Valley State. Alabama State’s $2.82 million budget ranks first.

“This is bigger than me,” Coleman said. “I’m considering my assistant coaches also.”

Hardy could not be reached for comment Tuesday, but he made it clear last month that he and interim chancellor Calvin Johnson want Coleman to continue coaching the Golden Lions.

“We’re pleased with the progress he has made,” Hardy said last month. “We expect the program to grow and blossom, and we think he can take us where we want to go.”

Coleman’s contract has been a minor point of contention — he has maintained a desire to work out a deal, but never called it a distraction — since last summer. He said in August that he wanted an extension. Hardy, who took over in September 2011, said at that time he was willing to discuss a new deal but didn’t say when that would happen.

It came three months later, moments after UAPB beat Texas Southern 49-3 on Nov. 3 to clinch the SWAC Western Division.

Talks started not long after UAPB’s 24-21 overtime victory over Jackson State in the SWAC Championship Game. Both said they wanted a deal done by New Year’s, but more than two weeks later they are still working on it.

Coleman, who has two agents, said he is negotiating with Hardy and Johnson himself.

In the meantime, it’s business as usual inside J. Thomas May Field House. Coleman said UAPB has more than 20 recruits visiting this weekend, and he hopes the contract will be signed “no later than the first of February.”

“Through conversations with Dr. Johnson and Mr. Hardy, they’ve assured me that they definitely want me,” Coleman said. “We’re working toward that. ... I’m not getting ready to jump ship. They’ve told me I’m the man for the job for the next five years.”

Sports, Pages 17 on 01/16/2013