Robinson as A.D. draws raves

Steve Guiremand

Friday, Aug. 17, 2001 | 10:30 a.m.

Just hours after being given the additional job of athletic director Thursday, UNLV head football coach John Robinson was asked what would be his first order of business.

Can you say "Whoooooa pig sooooie?"

"We go to Arkansas and play football," Robinson said referring to the Rebels' Aug. 30 season-opener. "That's our first order of business."

Robinson officially starts his double duty as head coach/A.D. on Jan. 1, 2002. He made it clear that his No. 1 objective now is to prepare the Las Vegas Bowl champions for another big season.

"I start in January," Robinson said. "I've got some time to kind of put some things together. But right now our main focus is football.

"Obviously, it would be wrong to start talking about any plans I might have right now. I'm not going to try to change people. I'm just going to try to make all of us work together and kind of get a renewal of passion for doing this stuff.

"I think our athletic department as a team has to be close together. We need to enjoy the fact that we have got such great jobs and that this is so much fun. And we've got to make life better for the kids that are playing, too, both from an academic standpoint to just their well-being."

Robinson's appointment was a popular one with his coaching colleagues.

"I'm very happy John's going to take the position," new UNLV basketball coach Charlie Spoonhour said. "There's always a concern when there is a change (of leadership), but I don't think you could have found a better person to take over.

"John has been very helpful since I've been here, sharing some of his insights. I've enjoyed the time I've been able to spend with him."

As for the burden of doing both jobs, Spoonhour believes Robinson can handle it.

"I think he's smart enough and been around enough to know what he can and can't do. If he couldn't handle (being A.D.) along with coaching, he wouldn't do it. I don't see it as a problem."

Both women's track and field coach Karen Dennis and men's head tennis coach Dr. Larry Easley said they were happy that the school stayed inside to hire their new A.D.

"I'm pretty excited," Easley said. "Our last two athletic directors came from the outside. It's nice to go inside this time and go with someone who has already done a great job here."

"I've always preferred having an A.D. who has coached," Dennis added. "I think the fact that they've been in the trenches before helps them be more sensitive to what coaches need to be successful."

Women's softball coach Shan McDonald felt Robinson's football success would spill over into the entire athletic department.

"His success in Las Vegas is a big bonus," McDonald said. "He's already drawn a lot of people to the football program and I think he'll be able to get the community to rally around the whole athletic program. I know he cares about the whole school and the athletic department, not just the football team. He doesn't have tunnel vision just for football."

McDonald said Robinson had been a big supporter of her program long before he had aspirations for the A.D. job.

"When he first got here, he would always say, 'Hey, if there is anything I can do to help ...,' " McDonald said. "He's talked to some of our recruits in the past. So even back then he took an interest in what was going on outside his program."

"John's always made an extra effort to help," Dennis said. "He's always been approachable, which I can't say about all the football coaches I've worked with. We share some of the same facilities and we've always been able to work things out without any problems."

Robinson has said he'd like to hire a full-time fund-raiser when he takes over. Generating more revenue for all sports will become a big goal.

His reputation as a saleseman and his approachability should give him a leg up on his predecessor. One of the biggest complaints against Charlie Cavagnaro was that he was too withdrawn, both from his own department and from the movers and shakers within the community, to be an effective athletic director.

"John's got some idea about where we need to go," Spoonhour said. "Money is a big issue. We have to find a way to generate revenue, which would make life better for all our (teams). Ticket sales in football and basketball are one thing, but improving (donations) is very important."

"He did a good job of generating income for football," Dennis said. "I think he can do the same thing for the entire department. He has other children to care for now, and I think he'll do a good job in that regard."

Robinson said he believes it will take a concentrated team effort from his colleagues to move the athletic department ahead.

"My plan is to get everybody involved in this," he said. "Every coach that coaches here is going to have a hand in our athletic department. I just feel that is important. We all have to have a passion for this athletic department. Together, we can do a lot of good things here."

Sun sportswriter Steve Addy also contributed to this story.