Biggest man on campus

Steve Guiremand

Friday, Aug. 23, 2002 | 10:47 a.m.

The top 10

The top 10 Most Influential Sports Figures in Las Vegas, as selected by the Las Vegas Sun sports staff:

1. John Robinson, UNLV football coach/AD

2. Pat Christenson, Las Vegas Events president

3. Marc Ratner, Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director

4. Andre Agassi, tennis great, philanthropist

5. Oscar Goodman, mayor of Las Vegas

6. Rossi Ralenkotter, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority vice president of marketing

7. Bob Arum, boxing promoter, Top Rank Inc.

8. Chris Powell, Las Vegas Motor Speedway general manager

9. Larry McKay, Clark County School System athletic director, basketball tournament director.

10. Michael Gaughan, rodeo/auto racing booster, Orleans Arena owner. OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Don Logan, Las Vegas 51s president and general manager; Bill Walters, golf course operator; Charlie Spoonhour, UNLV men's basketball coach; Charlie Baron, PGA Invensys Classic tournament director; Greg Maddux, Atlanta Braves pitcher; George Maloof Jr., Sacramento Kings, Palms hotel-casino owner; Tim Chambers, CCSN baseball coach; Darren Libonati, Sam Boyd Stadium, Thomas & Mack Center operator; Russ Culver, oddsmaker; Jason Thomas, UNLV quarterback.

Less than four years ago, John Robinson was an unemployed college football coach after losing a much-publicized power struggle at USC with athletic director Mike Garrett.

Today, he's head football coach at UNLV and athletic director. And according to a poll of Sun sports writers, he's the most influential sports figure in Las Vegas.

"What's the prize?" Robinson said with a chuckle.

Robinson, who turned 67 on July 25, hasn't shown any signs of slowing down since replacing Jeff Horton as football coach in December 1998.

In the 44 months since arriving in Las Vegas, Robinson has:

"People respond to him," said Harrold, a former president at Caesars Palace and the Las Vegas Hilton. "I think one of the reasons they like him so much is because they know how loyal he is. That's one of the things that attracted me to him ... his loyalty. People who know him know what an honest and sincere person he is about elevating UNLV nationally."

Terry Cottle, UNLV's Associated Athletic Director for sports marketing, calls Robinson "a man's man."

"He's such a good guy. He's a great communicator. He's already done a ton since taking over as athletic director.

"I've been here 19 years," Cottle continued. "Las Vegas is a great community when it comes to supporting this university. If you present a good vision and a good plan, people are 'Let's go.' There's a real can-do attitude here. And I think (Robinson) is the kind of athletic director who can capitalize on that."

Robinson is flattered by the recognition.

"It's a little surprising (to be named most influential)," Robinson said. "But I think it says that, if in fact that we are having some impact on people with what we're doing, it gives us an opportunity. I look at that and say, 'If you are influential, you better use that influence for good here and get some things done over the next few years."'

In typically humble fashion, Robinson also shared the honor with the rest of his athletic department.

"This just doesn't point to me but it points to the athletic department itself," he said. "There's a lot of good happening here and just the general pulse of what we're doing has improved. There's more people excited about our programs. The basketball team did well. The spring sports programs did well. I really feel like we're starting to move in the right direction."

Still, Robinson is far from satisfied from where UNLV athletics rank today.

"I think our facilities are good but we've got to keep growing," Robinson said. "We've got to do a better job in regard to the student-athlete in terms of his or her support on and off the fields. We're OK right now but to me it's the edge that we need to really become a great recruiting school in terms of getting the really good people here.

"Part of that is building an academic center somewhere out here," Robinson said, pointing to the edge of the Rebel Park practice fields. "Those are things we have to do to continue to improve."

Robinson also is stressing a more fan-friendly approach to attending UNLV athletic events. He recently revealed special Family Fun Zones for select Rebel football and basketball games where families can sit in their own sections at a reduced rate, away from some of the rowdier parts of the stadiums.

"I think that will make a major impact on young families and their entertainment dollar," Robinson said.

"I'm really interested in filling Sam Boyd and filling the Thomas & Mack. I want to go to a normal conference basketball game and see 15,000 people there. The excitement of those last eight or nine basketball games last season ... you could just feel the energy. And also the way people came out and supported women's basketball. There's a momentum. We just have to keep it going.

"Ultimately, though, to me there are two things we need to do: We have to recruit and we have to have customer service. It's got to be fun to come to a game and we've got to make it easy to come to a game.

"We'll make it so good that you have to come. That's our goal."