Columnist Brian Hilderbrand: Title in hand, Knight sets his sights on more

Tuesday, June 2, 1998 | 11:31 a.m.

Now that he has won a national championship, Dwaine Knight has achieved virtually every goal he set for himself when he took over the Rebels golf program in the fall of 1987.

But that doesn't mean the 50-year-old Knight has plans to retire from coaching -- not just yet, anyway.

Shortly after the Rebels captured the national title Saturday in Albuquerque, N.M., Knight confirmed that eventually he would like to move into athletic administration as the athletic director at UNLV.

"I've certainly thought about it," Knight said. "If I could help the university, I would love to (become an athletic director)."

Knight said he talked with a number of ADs during the NCAA Championships, but said he wasn't ready to give up coaching.

"I have really enjoyed (coaching), it has been great," Knight said. "I'm not really thinking about that now but things change.

"I talked to a couple of ADs that were (in Albuquerque) about some things and they said that it is becoming more difficult to be an athletic director these days."

Since Knight took over a foundering Rebel golf program, he has won four conference championships, three NCAA West Regional titles and, now, one national championship.

"Now we've done it all -- we've won everything there is to win," Knight said. "We've won conference championships, an individual championship -- everything.

"I don't think my job is done here yet -- although when I first came here my goal was to win a national championship. There are still some things I'd like to do at UNLV, for this program. I'd like to strengthen some areas and (improve our) facilities."

The only one of Knight's long-range goals that he has yet to fulfill is the construction of a home course for the UNLV golf team -- such as the one the University of New Mexico has in the Championship Course. The Rebels have access to all of the top courses in town, both public and private, but having a true home course would give the Rebels a greater edge in recruiting, Knight said.

* NCAA LEFTOVERS: Unheralded Miami at Ohio acquitted itself quite well at the 101st NCAA Men's Golf Championships in Albuquerque, N.M. The RedHawks made the cut and finished 13th among 30 teams, and senior Kyle Voska, the tournament's first-round leader, finished tied for 11th place. "This is great for little Miami of Ohio," Voska said of the Oxford, Ohio, school. "Most people think we're from Florida ... maybe this will put us on the map." ... Charles Warren of Clemson, the 1997 NCAA individual champion, was unable to successfully defend his title in Albuquerque. Warren finished tied for second, one shot behind University of Minnesota freshman James McLean. ... Georgia Tech freshman Bryce Molder, who finished sixth at the NCAA finals, was named the College Player of the Year and received the Jack Nicklaus Award Sunday prior to the final round of the PGA Tour's Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio. Arizona State freshman Grace Park was named the women's College Player of the Year. Park finished third at the NCAA Women's Championships and helped ASU to its sixth national championship in the 1990s.

* UPCOMING EVENTS: The PGA Tour is in Potomac, Md., this week for the Kemper Open at the TPC at Avenal. Justin Leonard is the defending champion; CBS will televise Saturday and Sunday. ... The Senior PGA Tour will stage the Nationwide Championship this weekend at the Golf Club of Georgia in Alpharetta. Graham Marsh won last year's tournament; ESPN will televise. ... The LPGA Tour is in St. Louis for the Michelob Light Classic at Forest Hills Country Club. Annika Sorenstam is the defending champion; ESPN will televise.