Rebels new coach already lining up his coaching staff

Steve Guiremand

Thursday, Dec. 3, 1998 | 11:01 a.m.

He has coached national championship teams.

He has coached two Heisman Trophy winners.

He has gone head-to-head against Bill Walsh and Joe Montana and more than held his own.

Now John Robinson faces perhaps his biggest challenge of his brilliant 21-year head coaching career -- rebuilding a struggling UNLV football program that has lost 16 consecutive games and won just four times in three years.

Robinson, 63, was to be introduced as the eighth head football coach in UNLV's 31-year history today during a news conference at the Richard Tam Alumni Center. He replaces Jeff Horton, who was fired Nov. 16 during the midst of the school's first 0-11 season.

According to a source close to the search committee, Robinson was a clear-cut choice over Colorado State's Sonny Lubick and Louisville's John L. Smith for the job.

Robinson reportedly agreed to a three-year deal worth close to $400,000 per year. The deal also includes promises to significantly upgrade the school's football program, particularly the salaries of assistant coaches.

Robinson has made a big push to lure Notre Dame quarterbacks coach Mike Sanford away from the Fighting Irish to become his assistant head coach and offensive coordinator with the promise he would be groomed to one day succeed Robinson at UNLV.

Sanford, a Trojan backup quarterback in the '70s, spent nine years at USC as a wide receivers coach and helped develop NFL first-round picks Keyshawn Johnson, Curtis Conway and Johnnie Morton. Ironically, he left USC in 1997 for South Bend after Robinson passed him over for an offensive coordinator opening in favor of unproven Hue Jackson -- a decision that may have hastened Robinson's departure from SC.

Robinson has given Sanford until the end of this week to accept the job. If Sanford declines, it is believed Robinson will offer the position to longtime Southern California high school coach and quarterback guru Bob Johnson, the father of Buffalo Bills quarterback Rob Johnson.

Sanford's decision could play a pivotal role in whether another former USC assistant, Doug Smith, accepts an offer to become UNLV's offensive line coach.

Smith, a former Pro Bowl center with the Rams during Robinson's coaching tenure there, and his family are very close to Sanford and his family. Smith also is a candidate to become a head coach at Saddleback Junior College in Mission Viejo, Calif.

Robinson has also offered former USC and current Oregon State defensive line coach Jeff McInerney the job as his defensive coordinator.

Current UNLV wide receivers coach DelVaughn Alexander, who played and coached for Robinson at USC, is expected to retain his position with the Rebels.

As reported in an exclusive Sun story Wednesday, Robinson flew in from his Laguna Niguel home Wednesday morning and tied up the loose ends on his contract with UNLV athletic director Charles Cavagnaro. He then spent almost two hours meeting with the 16-person search committee put together by Cavagnaro.

According to a source who attended the meeting, Robinson wooed the search committee with his answers on a wide range of issues, covering everything from academics to the importance of campus life for a student to his football philosophies. When he was finished, both Robinson and Cavagnaro received a loud round of applause from the committee.

Although there were a large number of reporters and TV crews waiting outside, a decision was made to postpone a planned 7 p.m. press conference until this afternoon.

The news that Robinson would be UNLV's new coach was greeted with enthusiasm and smiles by players working out in the Lied Athletic Complex weight room on Wednesday.

"It's a big name and it's something we need here right now," said starting safety Randy Black.

"With the loss of Coach (Jeff) Horton and everything he brought to the program, we need another high-class guy who can bring in big recruits. We need a guy who comes in with a winning tradition, like (Robinson) had with the Rams and at SC. I know he'll be able to build on what Coach Horton left."

"I used to like watching USC play," linebacker and team captain James Sunia said. "I mean, the Trojans are (good). I'm pretty happy he's coming here. Everybody's pretty fired up and excited about playing for him."

Black admitted he had a tough time believing rumors that Robinson might be interested in coaching the Rebels.

"I first heard names like (Terry) Bowden and (Ron) Meyer were candidates," Black said. "I was like, 'OK, whatever.' But then I heard J.R. I was like, 'Yeah, right. Nah, not UNLV.' But we lucked out and got the guy.

"His name alone will bring in recruits," Black continued. "This should be a big ego boost for the team. I'm hoping this is the start of a great future here."