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Friday, April 1, 2011 | 6:21 p.m.
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I remember when Billy Tubbs was coaching at Oklahoma and everyone was trying to recruit Wayman Tisdale.
Wayman was an Oklahoma high school legend and the nation’s top recruit. We all assumed Wayman was going to stay at home.
Billy and I were good friends, so I asked him: “Does anyone else have a chance at signing him?” Billy told me, “There’s not enough oil in the whole country to buy Tisdale out of Oklahoma.”
The Oklahoma athletic department basically has unlimited funds. They wanted Lon Kruger to be their next basketball coach and had the resources to get what they wanted. I’m absolutely amazed at how much they are paying coaches nowadays. It just blows my mind. There was nothing like that in coaching during my career. My highest salary was $460,000 a year.
I thought Lon did a great job at UNLV. He united the community and welcomed back the Rebels of the past. I can’t tell you how long overdue that was and how we all appreciated it. He was just so good in the community, always shaking hands with people or speaking at dinners.
He did a great job of coaching here, too. His teams always played hard. They were very competitive. I thought he did a great job in every aspect of running the program.
The program will still be in good shape. They have great facilities, great financial backing and the support of the administration. It’s a great place to coach and they will find someone to continue what Lon started.
I know a lot of people have mentioned Reggie Theus as a potential replacement and I think Reggie would make a great coach for UNLV. He coached New Mexico State to a league championship a few years back and understands the style of basketball they play at UNLV from being one of my great all-time players. Reggie would be a great fit.
Nothing will replace your era Tark. That was a special time. Hopefully UNLV's next coach puts the Runnin back in the Runnin Rebels....
Even Tark knows Reggie Theus is a good hire!
If Reggie Theus comes in, this might be an upgrade.
What a classy elder statesman Coach Tark is. One of the few college games I saw in person was when Tark brought UNLV to Norman to play the Sooners. Great game which OU won with a home-cookin no-call at the end. Classy even then, Tark took the high road.
Funny, since the biggest athletic budget in the country is down the road at Texas, we in Oklahoma don't always realize that we are a top ten department. There are limits to what we will spend, though. I read that we wanted Buzz Williams at Marquette, but wouldn't pay his $3 million buyout. Coach Kruger's half-million was easy. I think he will right our ship and give us stability. I feel bad about taking him from UNLV though. I thought he was a good coach with a honest, well run program. Kinda like Jerry Sloan at the Utah Jazz.
Tark's right. It's about the money. Oil is doing a lot better than gaming and tourism right now. Nevada can't afford to pay for top notch college athletics. Education comes first at a real university like Oklahoma, then they put the best teams out there they can.
UNLV will do just fine. Any NCAA fan always thinks Basketball first, when thinking of UNLV sports. The great tradition will continue. Always great to hear what the great Tark has to say. Jerry is equally respected by the fans and friends in Fresno. (Count me among those fans).
Always good to hear fron you, Jerry!
It was a shock that Kruger decided to leave right after he said he wasn't. Kinda wish he would have finished his contract. I think he did a lot to build the program.
Having Theus coach would be great. Being born and raised in LV I remember Theus from his playing days. I am a big fan of Tark and his family. Great Las Vegans. I am ever resentful of Maxson and Booke for what they did to Tark and our city.
Bruce pearl??? come on..lets do it big
With Sandavol in office, don't expect good results for money coming to our sports programs.
Coach,
You are so right about Kruger. It was great that he welcomed back you and the guys. You should have always been welcome, it is folks like Maxson and Finfrock that should have been exiled for life.
On this issue of the next coach I think David Rice is the logical pick. I hope Livengood pulls the trigger and gets him hired.
I wish you could talk some sense into Livengood coach. Hiring Theus should be a no-brainer but, it looks like Rice is the favorite to get the job.