Double trouble

Steve Addy

Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2001 | 10:12 a.m.

School rivalries aside, Chris Ault wishes John Robinson success in his new dual role as UNLV's athletic director and football coach.

But Ault isn't sure good wishes are enough.

What Robinson might need most, Nevada-Reno's longtime AD said, are 27 hours a day and nine days a week.

"Being athletic director is a full-time job by itself. I don't envy John," said Ault, 58. "Generically speaking, it's extremely difficult for one person to do both jobs effectively. Time management is crucial. You're always against the clock."

Few people in college sports have Ault's unique perspective on this issue, because he spent nine years serving in the same roles for UNR -- football coach and AD. Except for five months in 1993 when Jeff Horton was football coach, Ault handled both jobs from 1985-95.

"That was long enough," he said. "I was also our offensive coordinator. Shows you how dumb I was."

Though various NCAA Division I-A schools have experimented with a combined football coach-AD in the past two decades, Arkansas State (Joe Hollis) is the only one with that current set-up.

Robinson, 66, will step into the same simultaneous roles in January when he adds the AD's duties to his football job, a promotion he actively sought.

Last Thursday in Reno, the state Board of Regents voted 9-0 (with two members absent) to approve Robinson's new role. Technically, the board voted to waive the so-called "Chris Ault Rule," a University System bylaw that prevents a coach from serving as AD at the same time.

That waiver cleared the way for UNLV president Dr. Carol Harter to appoint Robinson to replace Charlie Cavagnaro, six months ahead of the latter's planned retirement on June 30, 2002.

Ault said he favored the bylaw's passage in 1990, in the midst of his dual role. Even then, he believed UNR (and potentially UNLV) would be better served by a full-time AD, though the impetus for the bylaw was mainly to prevent a coach from being his own boss.

"(Regent) Sig Rogich proposed it, and he and I were fraternity brothers," Ault said. "But I understood it and I agreed with it. It was the right thing to do. Major college sports is big business, and you need a full-time athletic director."

Ault said he doesn't doubt Robinson's earnestness or ability. He simply feels the dual workload is too much for anyone, himself included.

"The magnitude of the AD's job has grown so much in the past 10 years, it's become overwhelming," Ault said. "There are many more demands on ADs with regard to NCAA compliance and gender equity. These are time-consuming things that need to be handled by the AD.

"As (UNR) grew into a I-A school, there were important decisions I had to make in administration of the program. I found that I couldn't do both jobs and be as effective as I wanted, even with a good staff, which I know (Robinson) will have at UNLV.

"John has captivated Las Vegas, and he's a tremendous asset. But I think some of the pressures outside the football arena will wear on him."

Before the Robinson vote, Ault expressed his reservations to Regent Tom Kirkpatrick and other board members who phoned to ask his opinion.

Robinson didn't call, however.

"I was hoping he would. I would have visited with him," Ault said.

Because he and Robinson didn't speak, Ault is hesitant to address UNLV's situation from afar or offer unsolicited advice.

"I'm not familiar with all of the issues there, but I know their facilities are essentially in place, so that should make an easier transition for (Robinson)," he said. "When I became AD, I went right into fundraising mode to get our facilities up to standard. He won't have to do that.

"But it was easier for me because I had been the football coach for 10 years, and I had been around Reno for years. So I knew where to go (for the money)."

Though Robinson said he intends to hire a full-time staffer to help raise $10 million for the department, Ault said it is crucial for any AD to be at the forefront of major fundraising campaigns.

"Fundraising is the fun part -- dealing with the community -- but those donors will want to see (Robinson) and meet him," Ault said. "They'll want to know that the AD is involved, watching out for their donations, spending it right."