For more than $1 million, Clem Haskins has agreed to step down as University of Minnesota men's basketball coach, the Pioneer Press has learned.

Details of his departure were still being negotiated Thursday night, but the main framework of the deal was made final during negotiations earlier Thursday.

The only way the deal could fall apart, two sources said, is if Haskins changes his mind today.

One source said Haskins was expected to receive no more than $1.5 million and that Haskins has agreed to handle the departure in an amicable manner.

University President Mark Yudof will brief the Board of Regents about the deal in a closed session at 11 a.m. today. A public announcement is expected in the afternoon.

Athletic director Mark Dienhart said he could not confirm Haskins' departure, although he spoke with him on Thursday. Haskins told Dienhart that Yudof had asked the coach whether he thought the program would be better off without him.

The huge buyout is guaranteed by Haskins' contract unless he is fired for just cause. The 10-year agreement, signed in 1994, is worth an estimated $700,000 annually, when all outside income is included. The strict language in the deal calls for him to receive the remainder of his contract, almost $1.2 million, if he is removed without just cause by June 30.

Thursday afternoon Patricia Spence, newly elected regents chairwoman, called the special meeting at the request of university general counsel Mark Rotenberg. The regents' meeting will be closed to the public because the subject is a matter of attorney-client privilege.

Talks between Rotenberg and Ron Zamansky, Haskins' attorney, which began more than two weeks ago, were continuing into the night Thursday so they could hammer out minor details.

Yudof declined to discuss the substance of the discussions. However, he said he feels ''sad about the whole situation.''

''These are difficult days,'' Yudof said. ''I have high regard for Clem.''

He added that Haskins has ''a strong preference to continue coaching.''

''I think the president will inform us about the results of his interview Wednesday with coach Haskins,'' Spence said. ''I'm hoping he will have some details from the investigation that we can use to make a decision.''

Regents had been scheduled to meet Monday.

Yudof declined to comment Thursday evening on why it was important to meet today.

According to the regents' policy, Yudof can make major decisions without consulting them.

''I doubt that the president would want us to meet Friday unless he wants us to come to a decision,'' Spence said.

The meeting is scheduled to last a couple of hours. Spence was unsure whether the regents could come to a decision in that time. Some of the regents will participate in person, others by telephone.

Yudof met Wednesday with Haskins and his attorney.

''I wanted to make sure I understood his feelings, and I do,'' Yudof said.

Neither Haskins nor his attorney would comment.

Haskins' troubles began in March when allegations of academic fraud first surfaced. Former Gophers basketball tutor Jan Gangelhoff told the Pioneer Press she wrote more than 400 pieces of course work for at least 20 players. Other charges followed, including allegations by former players, tutors and at least one administrator in the academic counseling department.