It's official: UNLV reaches into the high school ranks

[Vegas Halo Fan]

Despite local media reports that both June Jones and Ed Orgeron expressed interest in the job, UNLV hired Bishop Gorman High School head coach Tony Sanchez to lead the program. His college coaching experience consists of one year as a graduate assistant at New Mexico State - period. Gorman just won their sixth straight state football championship - but it helps when you can recruit and cherry pick the best players in the area (DeMarco Murray went to Gorman). Sanchez's prior team could probably have beaten his current one head-to-head, and that is no exaggeration. Compensation is projected to be $500K per season.

 

An underlying story line is that the Fertitta family, owners of Station Casinos for those familiar, have been rumored to be willing to put as much as $30M into the UNLV program if they hire Sanchez. The Fertittas attended Gorman, several of them played football there, and they have been a major donor to the school, whose stadium bears their name. I understand about the money, but I don't see how hiring a high school coach, no matter how accomplished, does anything to enhance the terrible reputation of the UNLV program.

 

Tony Sanchez announced as next UNLV coach; to receive 4-year contract worth $500,000 annually

Edited December 11, 2014 by Vegas Halo Fan

[Angel Oracle]

Exactly, ask North Texas how hiring a HS head coach worked for them (6-37 record there).

And he had been a partial legend in the Texas HS circle.

Or ask the Domers how hiring former HS coach Gerry Faust in 1981 worked out for them. They never sniffed the Top 25. Only hiring Lou Holtz in 1986 rescued them.

[nando714]

Boosters.

Sanchez is brining Frank Fertitta III with him as booster. He's a billionarie. Unlv program desperately needs money help

[yk9001]

Exactly, ask North Texas how hiring a HS head coach worked for them (6-37 record there).

And he had been a partial legend in the Texas HS circle.

Or ask the Domers how hiring former HS coach Gerry Faust in 1981 worked out for them. They never sniffed the Top 25. Only hiring Lou Holtz in 1986 rescued them.

 

 

NO RON PALMER REFERENCE????

 

Jeez, AO, you are slipping.  Its like I don't even know you any more.

[Vegas Halo Fan]

When Sanchez wins two games a year like Bobby Hauck did, I'm wondering how much cash will keep coming into the program. He is no miracle worker. He is the beneficiary of being given every possible advantage, so much so that other coaches have complained to the state high school athletic association. Bishop Gorman recruits the top players in the area and then beats up on the schools they took them from. Their facilities are better than many colleges and universities have, plus in addition to their wealthy donors, they have been getting ESPN television money.

 

The program he is taking over is the anti-Gorman. They will be at a disadvantage both talent-wise and in terms of facilities against most of the programs they face.

[stevestevens]

Exactly, ask North Texas how hiring a HS head coach worked for them (6-37 record there).

And he had been a partial legend in the Texas HS circle.

Or ask the Domers how hiring former HS coach Gerry Faust in 1981 worked out for them. They never sniffed the Top 25. Only hiring Lou Holtz in 1986 rescued them.

What about Briles?

[nando714]

When Sanchez wins two games a year like Bobby Hauck did, I'm wondering how much cash will keep coming into the program. He is no miracle worker. He is the beneficiary of being given every possible advantage, so much so that other coaches have complained to the state high school athletic association. Bishop Gorman recruits the top players in the area and then beats up on the schools they took them from. Their facilities are better than many colleges and universities have, plus in addition to their wealthy donors, they have been getting ESPN television money.

The program he is taking over is the anti-Gorman. They will be at a disadvantage both talent-wise and in terms of facilities against most of the programs they face.

Gorman beat Bosco Centineinal and Santa Margarita. Both bosco and centineinal were in the pac 5 final which is considered a top division in the country

[nando714]

What about Briles?

What about gus malzahn or chad morris

[Vegas Halo Fan]

What about Briles?

 

Art Briles had been an assistant at the college level for eight years when Baylor hired him.

[Vegas Halo Fan]

What about gus malzahn or chad morris

 

Neither went straight from high school into a collegiate head coaching job.

[Vegas Halo Fan]

Gorman beat Bosco Centineinal and Santa Margarita. Both bosco and centineinal were in the pac 5 final which is considered a top division in the country

 

Well, if UNLV ever plays Bosco, Centennial or Santa Margarita, I'm sure that Sanchez will be ready for them.

[nando714]

Well, if UNLV ever plays Bosco, Centennial or Santa Margarita, I'm sure that Sanchez will be ready for them.

Was just pointing out that gorman beat the best California teams not just Nevada teams

[Vegas Halo Fan]

They're good, no question about it. IMO that has little to do with the coach and a lot to do with their ability to recruit the best talent in the area. The coach who preceded Sanchez lost two games in his entire stay at Gorman. Sanchez was hardly the architect of the program, but he is being treated like it.

[Angel Oracle]

NO RON PALMER REFERENCE????

Jeez, AO, you are slipping. Its like I don't even know you any more.

LOL

That was a brutal era at LB. Only saving grace is that Palmer's recruited players eventually went to the NIT in Joe Harrington's first season.

Basketball is different. It can be done. John Thompson (not the son coaching there today) went directly from HS to Georgetown and built a legendary program in the 1980s.

Edited December 13, 2014 by Angel Oracle

[Angel Oracle]

They're good, no question about it. IMO that has little to do with the coach and a lot to do with their ability to recruit the best talent in the area. The coach who preceded Sanchez lost two games in his entire stay at Gorman. Sanchez was hardly the architect of the program, but he is being treated like it.

It would be like the Mater Dei HS head football coach taking over at LB, if football was still played there. Only advantage for UNLV is being the only college game in town, for that matter the only big time sports entity in town, besides gambling. BUT, they have struggled for many years in football. The most recent real success was when Randall Cunningham and Kirk Jones were there some 30 years ago. It doesn't help that the stadium is miles from the main part of Vegas and the campus.

[Vegas Halo Fan]

The most recent real success was when Randall Cunningham and Kirk Jones were there some 30 years ago. It doesn't help that the stadium is miles from the main part of Vegas and the campus.

 

One reason why there is a plan on the drawing board to build an on-campus stadium. The problem is where to put it. There is little available land on campus, and the surrounding area is completely developed, with the Strip not far to the west. One proposed location (next to the Thomas & Mack Center) is directly in the flight path for McCarran Airport, and there would be restrictions on the height of the stadium.

 

I organize watch parties for Florida football games as the president of the local Gator Club. The manager of the restaurant where we meet played at UNLV with Cunningham, probably the only really good team they ever had. He said that those were fun times. He is not terribly keen on the hiring of the high school coach, but he understands that it may have been necessary given the money that is likely to come with it.

 

An on campus stadium would be a game changer for UNLV, IMO. One reason attendance isn't better than it is has to do with Sam Boyd Stadium being almost ten miles from campus. It isn't an easy commute either, requiring navigating a lot of heavily traveled streets to get there - for those fortunate enough to have cars. I don't see UNLV being a top ten program by any means, but top 25 ought to be doable with the right facilities.

Edited December 16, 2014 by Vegas Halo Fan

[Angel Oracle]

I remember my one trip to Sam Boyd Stadium in 1985, the year after Cunningham led them to a Top 25 finish with an 11-1 record and spoiled Fullerton's hope for an unbeaten regular season and also a Top 25 finish.

Yep, the BWC had two really good teams that year, plus LB gave a serious scare to Oregon, UCLA, and UofA in September that same 1984 season.

LB trailed 14-0 early in the 1985 game that I attended at Sam Boyd, but came back to win 28-24. Harvey Hyde was still the coach there. LB's game MVP might as well been a DL for UNLV, who will be referred to simply as #94. Good ole #94 had not one, not two, but THREE 4th quarter personal fouls that kept LB drives going to run the clock down.

Edited December 16, 2014 by Angel Oracle

[Adam]

Who gives a shit? UNLV blows

[Lou]

gave a scare to  =  almost had a triple-double

[Angel Oracle]

That UCLA loss went down to the wire though, 23-17 and LB had a pass intercepted in the end zone late.

The UofA game was tied 24-24 with 2 min left, and then LB's kicker just missed a 60 yard FG try by about 1-2 yards that was straight.  Then a UofA RB had a long TD run with under a min to play to win the game, 31-24.

 

Memories, that's all us LB fans have left for football.