Deep local talent pool

Monday, June 23, 2008 | 2 a.m.

Is the Thomas & Mack half empty, or half full?

It might not happen tomorrow. It might not happen next month, or next year. But when Mike Hamrick eventually moves on from his post as UNLV’s athletic director, there are solid candidates within earshot who would do credit to the position.

In addition to Daren Libonati, head of the Thomas & Mack Center,

UNLV should look at these five:

Dwaine Knight

The UNLV men’s golf program has supported itself, because of Knight’s fundraising expertise, for most of the 21 years he’s run it. It won a national team championship in 1998. Why would he want the headaches associated with running an entire athletic program? He’s well liked and respected by all in Rebel land, and that’s an invaluable start.

Jerry Koloskie

Second in command to Hamrick, Koloskie is the glue of the entire department. He does it all, from answering his own phone to laying down chalk to shaping up the baseball field between games when that league tournament was in Las Vegas. Several presidents have erred in overlooking him.

Lon Kruger

The UNLV basketball coach was also AD at Texas-Pan American 25 years ago, so he’s always known about bottom lines. He’s just as sharp at raising funds, marketing and promotions. When and if he moves upstairs, maybe son Kevin, who 15 months ago as point guard guided the Rebels to the Sweet 16, will be ready to coach.

Tina Kunzer-Murphy

The Valley High and UNLV graduate once coached the Rebels’ women’s tennis team, but she has blossomed as the executive director of the Las Vegas Bowl. The past two football games have been sellouts, with increased TV ratings and payouts to participating teams. UNLV has never had a female athletic director.

Steve Stallworth

The local arena executive and former UNLV quarterback is a class act, although we wonder about that custom Oakland Raiders golf cart in his garage. Among his many credits, he brought the Kansas, North Carolina and Gonzaga hoops teams here.