Whalen leaves Rebels’ team

Wednesday, Nov. 11, 1998 | 11:03 a.m.

Casey Whalen, who served as UNLV's assistant golf coach for the past 14 months under Dwaine Knight, resigned Tuesday to pursue a head coaching position.

"I have another opportunity that may present itself in the way of a head coaching job, in women's golf," Whalen said."If there was ever a time for me to pursue a different job, this is it ... and I was fortunate enough that the timing of this new job was right."

Because the defending national champion Rebels ended their fall season last weekend and don't begin the spring portion of their schedule until February, the timing of Whalen's resignation gives Knight time to find a replacement.

"Casey was a great part of our program and I appreciate everything he has done for us," Knight said. "I know he has got some great opportunities ahead of him and I wish him the best, but things move on in this business and that's part of it."

Whalen, 27, would not disclose which job he was applying for but said it was a "big school ... a big-time opportunity."

Whalen came to UNLV in August 1997 after then assistant coach J.T. Higgins resigned to accept the head coach job at New Mexico. Whalen had served as assistant coach for the University of Texas women's golf program for one year prior to joining Knight's staff.

"I learned more from Dwaine than anyone else," Whalen said. "If and when this new opportunity presents itself, so much of what I've learned from him will be part of my program, just like it was for Bruce Heppler and J.T. Higgins."

Heppler, Knight's assistant from 1989-91, now is the head golf coach at Georgia Tech.

"By no means are there any hard feelings and I don't think I'm hanging (the team) out to dry," Whalen said. "It was a great run and I think the team is in pretty good shape and is going to be even better in the spring.

"The hardest part (about leaving) is the guys and the relationships we have developed. I just felt like, for me at 27, to be a head coach after two and a half years in golf was a pretty unique opportunity."

Knight said he has not yet begun to identify potential candidates for the vacany.