Two UNLV assistant coaches head to the NFL

Steve Guiremand

Tuesday, Feb. 24, 1998 | 9:45 a.m.

Give UNLV head football coach Jeff Horton credit. He knows how to pick good assistant coaches.

Problem is, maybe they're a little too good.

Horton lost two more assistants Monday when second-year wide receivers coach Eric Yarber and new running backs coach Tommie Robinson announced they had accepted coaching jobs with NFL teams.

The duo join former offensive coordinator and assistant head coach Charlie Stubbs, who left to become quarterbacks coach at Alabama, and running backs coach Tom Nordquist, who departed for Boise State, on the list of Rebels' assistants who have departed since the end of the 1997 season.

Yarber, who came to UNLV from the University of Idaho in December of 1996, accepted a job as an offensive assistant with the Seattle Seahawks. Robinson, who only came to UNLV from TCU on Feb. 9, has accepted an offensive coaching position to be determined with the Dallas Cowboys.

"It's hard to turn down the NFL," Horton said. "They both were offered tremendous opportunities to coach on the next level for their college coaches, which shows the bonds made between players and coaches.

"It's a great opportunity for both of those guys. Jerry Jones and Paul Allen have got a little deeper pockets than we do. It shows we have the right guys coaching here. It's just that we've got find a way to keep them."

The 34-year-old Yarber will help coach wide receivers and running backs for his old University of Idaho head coach, Dennis Erickson.

"I know Dennis very well," Yarber said. "He's been something like a step-dad to me. He's taken me under his wing and really helped me out over the years."

Horton didn't waste any time in finding a replacement for Yarber. He said Monday night that he had hired DelVaughn Alexander, a highly touted graduate assistant at USC the past two years, to be his new wide receivers coach.

"He should be on campus (today) and will start coaching on Wednesday," Horton said.

Robinson, 34, also will be reunited with his college coach. New Cowboys head coach Chan Gailey coached Robinson at Troy (Ala.) State in 1983-84. Troy State won the NCAA Division II title in 1984.

"I was real surprised the way things have worked out," Robinson said. "It's a great opportunity for me, but this situation is tough to walk away from. I hope the UNLV family and supporters know what kind of jewel they have in Coach Horton. He's got this program headed in the right direction."

Horton said he probably wouldn't name a new running backs assistant until after the completion of spring practice on March 7.