Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

REBELS FOOTBALL:

UNLV assistant coach Ty Gregorak arrested in Colorado

Former Colorado linebacker allegedly intoxicated during incident outside of strip club

Updated Friday, May 7, 2010 | 5:53 p.m.

Click to enlarge photo

UNLV linebackers coach Ty Gregorak

First-year UNLV assistant football coach Ty Gregorak was arrested in Boulder, Colo., after an incident last week outside of a strip club.

Gregorak, 31, was turned away this past weekend from the Nitro Club — located in the downtown Pearl Street Mall — by bouncer Joseph Benedetto after he determined Gregorak was too intoxicated to enter, according to Boulder police.

According to Gregorak's Denver-based attorney, David Beller, Benedetto said that he contacted Gregorak while walking in an alley next to the club rather than trying to enter it.

A police report obtained by the Sun states that Gregorak then walked to a nearby parking garage and approached Benedetto's Nissan Sentra, removing the man's wallet from the center console and a loaded .45-caliber Glock 36 handgun from the glove compartment.

Police said that on Saturday, Benedetto was awaken at home by "persistent knocking" and opened his door, finding Gregorak standing there. He said he recognized Gregorak from the night before.

Benedetto said Gregorak was apologetic while returning the gun and wallet, the report indicated.

"I'm sorry," Gregorak was quoted as saying in the report. "Last night I was really drunk. I'm not from here. I'm in town visiting friends. I don't do these kind of things."

According to the report, Benedetto and Gregorak shook hands, then Benedetto followed him in his car far enough to get down a license plate number from the rental car Gregorak was driving. Police then tracked it to identify Gregorak as the driver.

The report also indicates that Gregorak had a Montana license that was revoked for driving while impaired on March 19.

Gregorak told police he had no memory of meeting Benedetto at the Nitro Club or going into the bouncer's car. A former linebacker at Colorado from 1997-99, Gregorak said he was bar-hopping with friends and the last thing he remembered was going to the Lazy Dog on Pearl Street and another "dive bar."

"Mr. Gregorak stated that he woke up at his hotel and he saw the gun and Mr. Benedetto's other belongings," the police report stated. "He was unsure how he ended up with them."

As for how or whether Gregorak knew that the car in the garage belonged to the bouncer, neither man was able to explain. Benedetto told police the car was locked, and police found no signs of forced entry.

Gregorak turned himself in to Boulder police on Tuesday and was booked. He is free on a $2,500 bond.

He is charged with first-degree trespassing and a prohibited weapons possession, due to his state of intoxication. Formal charges are expected to be filed by prosecutors next week.

A call from the Sun to Gregorak on Friday afternoon wasn't immediately returned.

Gregorak was one of several assistants to come to UNLV from Montana along with new head coach Bobby Hauck, who replaced Mike Sanford this offseason following Sanford's five-year tenure.

He was with the Grizzlies' staff for the past six years, coaching linebackers and serving as the program's recruiting coordinator. He holds those same titles with the Rebels.

"Ty Gregorak has led an exemplary and successful life as a wonderful role model and mentor to countless students and fans alike," Beller said in an e-mail to the Sun. " He is ashamed that an innocent night out has led to allegations which bring him, his family, and the University embarrassment. He is looking forward to continuing to cooperate fully with the investigation, putting the matter behind him, and continuing his distinguished career."

UNLV athletic director Jim Livengood said in a statement the school is aware of the situation.

"The University and athletics department have been conducting an internal and thorough investigation regarding the pending allegations," Livengood said. "It would be premature and inappropriate to comment any further until this matter has been reviewed and resolved."

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy