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March 19, 2024

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Jerry Tarkanian, ‘the greatest Rebel of all time,’ remembered for loyalty during UNLV tribute

Former players, friends and family share memories of iconic coach and what made him special

Tribute Honors Coach Jerry Tarkanian

Steve Marcus

Lois Tarkanian, center, listens to former NBA player Chris Herren speak about her late husband during a tribute to celebrate the life of former UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian at the Thomas & Mack Center Sunday, March 1, 2015. With Lois Tarkanian are her daughters Pamela Tarkanian, left, and Jodie Diamant. Jerry Tarkanian died died Feb. 11 at age 84.

Tribute Honors Coach Jerry Tarkanian

Former NBA player Chris Herren shares stories of former UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian during a tribute to celebrate the Tarkanian's life at the Thomas & Mack Center Sunday, March 1, 2015. Tarkanian died died Feb. 11 at age 84. Launch slideshow »

Chris Herren had lost his basketball scholarship from Boston College for drug use and didn’t know what was next in his career.

“I went from a McDonald’s All-American to the kid nobody would give a second chance,” Herren said.

Then, he got a call from Jerry Tarkanian that saved his life. Tarkanian, whose legacy is defined by giving opportunity to rough-around-the-edges players when others passed, had a spot for Herren in his program at Fresno State.

Herren gave a powerful speech Sunday at the Thomas & Mack Center during a tribute to celebrate the legendary UNLV coach’s life. Tarkanian, who built UNLV into a basketball powerhouse and led the Rebels to the 1990 national championship, died Feb. 11 at age 84.

His legacy was remembered during a two-hour ceremony attended by about 4,000 fans. Former players from his other stops — various junior colleges, Long Beach State and Fresno State — shared their memories of the coach. There was laughter, tears and plenty of stories.

“Coach Tarkanian never needed or wanted the spotlight,” Herren said. “He gave that to his players.”

Today, though, was all about Tarkanian.

UNLV pulled out all the stops for the man Director of Athletics Tina Kunzer-Murphy called "the greatest Rebel of all time." They brought out the Rebels' 1990 national championship trophy, arranged for a Frank Sinatra impersonator to sing “My Way” and closed the tribute with a fireworks show similar to the pregame festivities on game day.

ESPN personality Kenny Mayne, a former UNLV quarterback, served as the master of ceremonies. “He loved people and he loved life, and it showed until his final days,” Mayne said.

Current UNLV players attended, dressed in matching black team sweats, and had a front-row seat for a trip down memory lane. Several former players were in attendance, from legends Reggie Theus and Ricky Sobers to Final Four fan-favorite Moses Scurry and less-heralded players such as sharpshooter Travis Bice.

Herron acknowledged he didn’t play for UNLV and didn’t win a national championship. But, like the others, the impact Tarkanian had in his life had to be shared.

“We share one common bond,” he said. “We played for the greatest coach in the history of the game.”

When Herren had a drug relapse at Fresno State, Tarkanian easily could have turned his back and kicked him off the team. Instead, he sat with Herren at a press conference to show his support. It wasn’t the first, or last, time Tarkanian was more than a coach — he was a father figure.

“I know my mom is waiting in a long line in heaven to thank you,” he said.

Here’s what others said about Tarkanian during the tribute:

Kunzer-Murphy:

“He was never, ever afraid to stand up for, and if necessary fight for, what he knew was right.”

UNLV President Len Jessup:

“Southern Nevada and the nation were introduced to UNLV because of him. ... He put UNLV on the map.”

Kentucky coach John Calipari via recorded message:

Calipari cherished a conversation he had with Tarkanian. “Coach Tark said, ‘I love watching your teams play. They play so hard. That’s the way the game should be played.’ ... I wanted to learn from him. He always brought me in. He always treated me as a son.”

West Virginia coach Bob Huggins via a recorded message:

“He was a coach’s coach. A man’s man.”

Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau via recorded message:

Thibodeau was part of Tarkanian’s coaching staff with the San Antonio Spurs. “(It was) his ability to bring the best out of everyone around him.”

Click to enlarge photo

A photo of Jerry Tarkanian is seen behind a 1990 NCAA Final Four chair during a tribute to celebrate the life of the former UNLV coach at the Thomas & Mack Center Sunday, March 1, 2015. Tarkanian died died Feb. 11 at age 84.

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski via recorded message:

“Jerry Tarkanian is one of the best coaches in any sport.” He called Tark’s UNLV program “one of the best in college basketball history.”

ESPN personality Dick Vitale via recorded message:

On walking through a Las Vegas casino with Tarkanian: “I thought I was walking with Frank Sinatra,” he said of Tarkanian’s popularity.

Sam Robinson, who played for Tarkanian at Long Beach State and in junior college:

Robinson’s mother died six years after he played for Tarkanian. Not only did the entire Tarkanian family attend her funeral, they paid for it. “He was more than a coach. He was a father figure,” Robinson said. “Thank you, Lois, for sharing your husband with me.” Sam’s younger brother, Jackie, played for UNLV.

Reggie Theus, one of UNLV’s best all-time players and part of the 1977 Final Four team:

“If he was in the hood or if he was on the top of the hill, he got along with everybody.” Theus brought laughter to the event with a few stories. He said Tarkanian often used basketball terms to describe life events. After getting in a car accident, Tarkanian told Theus, “Reggie, I took a charge.”

Leon Symanski, part of the 1987 Final Four team:

Tarkanian had an interesting approach when recruiting Symanski in 1984. “We’ll offer you a scholarship, but you won’t start one game for us,” Symanski recalled Tarkanian telling him. Tarkanian was recruiting Jarvis Basnight, a starter on the 1987 Final Four team, out of a junior college when he stumbled upon Symanski having a career game. He thought Symanski would be a solid practice player, telling him his value would be running the other team’s offense and defense. UNLV went 98-11 in his three years in the program, and Symanski has three degrees from UNLV.

Ricky Sobers, who played in the 1970s and has his number retired:

“Jerry Tarkanian is a dream maker.”

Eldridge Hudson, part of the 1987 Final Four team:

Hudson, affectionately called “El-Hud” by Tarkanian, is an assistant basketball coach at Nevada power Canyon Springs High. The team is coached by former Rebel great Freddie Banks. They use some of Tarkanian’s philosophies. “I find myself saying things Coach used to say when we were young,” Hudson said. “I’d say to (Freddie), ‘Did I just say that?’”

UNLV coach Dave Rice:

Rice recalled a conversation he had with Tarkanian during his first season as the Rebels’ coach. “(He said): ‘Dave, just remember one thing. Listen to what people say, but at the end of the day, make your own decisions and absolutely without question do what is it right.’” Rice also recalled Tarkanian telling him, “Try to be better tomorrow than you were today. Try to be better in two days than you were tomorrow. If you do that, you will be successful in life.”

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21

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