Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2004 | 10:34 a.m.
At 23, became youngest high school head coach in Nevada at Bishop Manogue in Reno.
At 29, became youngest college coach in the nation when he took over at Nevada-Reno.
At 40, became athletic director at UNR in addition to his football duties.
At 55, was elected to the National Football Foundation's College Hall of Fame.
1976...8-3
1977...8-3
1978...11-1
1979...8-4
1980...* -- 6-4-1
1981...7-4
1982...6-5
1983...* -- 9-5
1984...5-2
1985...* -- 11-2
1986...* -- 13-1
1987...5-6
1988...7-4
1989...7-4
1990...** -- 13-2
1991...* -- 12-1
1992...*** -- 7-5
1994...9-2
1995...*** -- 9-3
2004...2-2
* -- NCAA Division I-AA playoffs
** -- Lost Division I-AA final
*** -- Las Vegas Bowl
This is the week that Nevada-Reno head coach Chris Ault positively lives for.
Ault, who last winter relinquished his athletic director role at his alma mater so that he could return to the sideline for a third time, is very fond of the Fremont Cannon ... as long as it's painted Wolf Pack blue and silver.
It has been painted Rebels red the past four years. And Ault, who has been around to see the series since its inception in 1969, is looking forward to trying to change that on Saturday night when Nevada-Reno (2-2) plays UNLV (0-4) at Sam Boyd Stadium.
"These are the kinds of games that signify what college football is all about," Ault said. "Games like this, the rivalries with all the pageantry, is what makes it fun."
This will be the 14th Fremont Cannon battle that Ault has taken part in as head coach of the Wolf Pack. He is 7-6 in those games including a 3-4 mark in Las Vegas.
What is overlooked is the fact Ault also took part in three Fremont Cannon battles wearing Rebels red from 1973-75 as assistant on Ron Meyer's staff. UNLV went 2-1 in those games.
Some UNLV fans might find what Ault says next hard to swallow.
"I'm very proud of my background and being a part of the undefeated 1974 team that was inducted into the UNLV Sports Hall of Fame," Ault said.
Two years after that 12-0 regular season, which ended with a 49-11 loss to Delaware in the Grantland Rice Bowl, Ault took over head coaching duties at Nevada-Reno. One of his first rules --- and one he reportedly strictly enforces --- is that nobody on the team (and later the athletic department) is allowed to wear red.
"Yeah, I've had a lot of fun with that one," Ault chuckled. "When I came here from UNLV I put that one in. At that time, there really wasn't that much of a rivalry between the two schools. But a lot of people bring that rule up now. But there are a lot of schools around the country I bet that frown on you wearing the colors of your rival around campus."
If he's that obsessed with the color of someone's clothing, one can only imagine the intensity he has for trying to take the Fremont Cannon back with him to Reno on Saturday night.
"There is a lot of tradition with that cannon," Ault told the Reno Gazette-Journal on Tuesday. "Head coach, athletic director, citizen, it doesn't matter with me. I hate to see (the cannon) in red. I envy what (UNLV has) done. We used to dominate it and (they) are dominating it. Now we have to find a way get it back. It really is a prized trophy."
Safety Keone Kauo added: "Playing UNLV, he wants to win this game, I think, more than anything else in the world right now. I think it is going to be a crazy week for us."
With Rebels coach John Robinson, who is 4-1 in Fremont Cannon games, announcing his retirement earlier this week, this will be the only time Ault, a College Football Hall of Famer, will match wits with future Hall of Famer Robinson.
Both coaches say they have nothing but respect for one other. Ault and Robinson worked together on several issues when both were athletic directors.
"John and I have become good friends over the years," Ault said. "I hate to see (him retire). He's a true professional who has been great for the coaching profession. UNLV is a better program because of him."
Robinson said: "I think Chris is a good guy. We were ADs together and we overcame that illness. I think he's obviously a good coach. He's like me (in that) I've been in it and out of it and then back in it again. ... I think he fits in that category that once you're a coach, you're a coach for life."
And a coach who won't be caught dead wearing the color red.
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