George Tarkanian takes Bonanza High hoops job

By Rob Miech

Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009 | 4:27 p.m.

George Tarkanian is coaching again, at Bonanza High a short walk from his tenured teaching position at the College of Southern Nevada, but he’s not too sure what he’s getting into.

“I’ve heard they have competed at times and they haven’t competed at times,” Tarkanian said. “In terms of talent and how strong they’ll be, I haven’t the slightest idea.

“I do know the key to being successful will be committing to playing harder than your opponent and playing with pride. Do that and you’ll beat a lot of people.”

The youngest of legendary former UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian’s two sons, George Tarkanian was 253-81 in eight seasons of coaching in the junior college ranks, mostly in California.

One of those seasons was the ill-fated 16-14 campaign of 2002-03 at CSN, which was then called the Community College of Southern Nevada.

Danny Artest, younger brother of NBA player Ron Artest, was on that squad and every bit as unpredictable as his sibling. He once did push-ups between free throws at a road game to show up the opposing coach.

That was the lone season of Coyotes basketball.

Jerry Tarkanian said it is a good move for George, who accepted the Bonanza position Monday, and predicted that he would have success.

Bonanza, across the street from George Tarkanian’s job at the Charleston campus of CSN, went 7-17 in 2008-09, Rick Eurich’s lone season as the Bengals’ coach.

“I thought it would be a good situation, because it’s right across the street, so I contacted them,” George Tarkanian said. “I’m hoping to build a program that plays with a lot of pride and heart and competes. I want to help those young men develop their skills and play after high school.”

He coached the Las Vegas Stars, of the defunct International Basketball League, to a 12-5 record in 2006-07.

“I am getting excited about the opportunity,” Tarkanian said. “I won’t emphasize championships or 20-win seasons. But I will want us to play harder than our opponent on every possession. I want us to have an edge to compete.”