Harper loses "interim" tag

[rebneck]

I hope Director Harper hasn't gotten too comfortable with the "UNLV Way" during his nine years at the school, or we will see nothing but more stagnation and lowering of the bar. There are many demands put on the person sitting in that chair, but thinking outside the box to put your programs in positions to be successful doesn't seem to have been one of them since Livengood. Then you can skip back to JRob (maybe) then Rothermel. That he played football at K. State gives me a little hope that he might recognize what is needed. But was that when they were the "Mildcats"? Best of luck getting anything done, Erick. You'll need it.

 

[Rebel1986]

Another big fat paycheck for another unqualified public employee. UNLV never changes!

 

[rebswin2]

Ive never heard of this guy. Does UNLV no longer hire coahes or AD's with experience, they just go in house and take anyone they can find on the cheap. Is that guy Rocky still an team manager for football, is he in line to become the next football coach?

If UNLV doesnt care about its athletic department than why should I?

 

[LocoRebel]

Ive never heard of this guy. Does UNLV no longer hire coahes or AD's with experience, they just go in house and take anyone they can find on the cheap. Is that guy Rocky still an team manager for football, is he in line to become the next football coach?

Harp has been around the program for about a decade, maybe more?

And the answer to your other question is no.

But your point is not lost. My interactions with Harp have always been very good. Hes a great dude. But I have the same reservation. Not sure he's the guy who moves UNLV to the next level.

I do think he's in position to maybe take stock of what UNLV is right now. He isn't a person like DRF was who we all knew this was intended as a stepping stone for her. Obviously is Missouri called Harp today, he'd be be gone. But I dont know that he'll be working quite so hard leave.

I just hope that doesn't mean he won't work hard.

 

[Rebel1986]

The guy that serves slurpees at 7/11 is a great guy, but that doesn't mean he is qualified to be an AD. Unfortunately UNLV is a good old boy and girls network that loves to hire friends and buddies who have come up through the ranks instead of looking for the best person, which is why UNLV athletics has been near the top in the budget but near the bottom in quality for decades!

 

[NSU67]

Some of you seem to have inside information about Harp. Can you share? I know that sometimes we get knowledge that we are not privileged to share. But, if you have actual knowledge of reasons why Harp is like a 7-11 clerk, maybe you can give us general examples of what you encountered.
In fairness, I should say that I have not dealt with him personally. I have worked closely with the basketball program, and I know that people I talk to are happy. Just working there should not deprecate their opinions.

 

[NSU67]

Let us assume that Rebel-net is correct. The football program is a dumpster fire. Basketball is hopelessly mired in less than mediocrity. The athletic department would have to improve To be called a mess. Fans have deserted, refuse to buy tickets. Every person at UNLV athletics is judged as inferior, and unable to even recognize a person's abilities, even after a decade.

Is it difficult to imagine that the star candidates for AD and/or coach might not be jumping at the chance to come here?
Likewise, is it possible that big money donors think that if fans won't even pay for game tickets, that they can find better use for their dollars?
Maybe posters are right. In that case, the outlook us more than bleak. Go, Knights, go! Rai--ders!

 

[Rebel1986]

The 7-11 comment was in regards to him being a great guy which really means nothing in regards to ability to do a job! I will not trust the hiring of anyone in house or from the rebel family after the job they did with hiring Tina Kunzer-Murphy who did her best to destroy the athletic department, and then they went out of house to hire someone who would check off all the boxes in regards to who she was instead of what she has done in Desiree Reed-Francois. Desiree had her foot out the door from day one and did nothing positive up to this point for UNLV unless you want to look at non-revenue sports. Still waiting to see if either the football or basketball hires will pan out, but she was able to turn a pile of shit into her becoming a multi-millionaire with her new contract!

 

[j. spilotro]

The 7-11 comment was in regards to him being a great guy which really means nothing in regards to ability to do a job! I will not trust the hiring of anyone in house or from the rebel family after the job they did with hiring Tina Kunzer-Murphy who did her best to destroy the athletic department, and then they went out of house to hire someone who would check off all the boxes in regards to who she was instead of what she has done in Desiree Reed-Francois. Desiree had her foot out the door from day one and did nothing positive up to this point for UNLV unless you want to look at non-revenue sports. Still waiting to see if either the football or basketball hires will pan out, but she was able to turn a pile of shit into her becoming a multi-millionaire with her new contract!

I think the the smartest way to view it. Look at history, trends, actual situation and that should give you a good gut feel which may be right or wrong.

Aside from a fluke/dumb luck, given the way UNLV has handled things, what’s a strong indicator that any of these hires will be considered good hires? Blind faith can give you hope. That’s about it at this juncture.

Everyone wants UNLV to succeed in every area. But it’s looking kinda grim at this point.

 

[NSU67]

No one should argue TKM. DRF, whether she had a foot out the door, moved to a P5. This hire may be a bust. Simply dismissing someone because those who have worked with him like him is unfair. Say he is not experienced enough, or he has done a bad job previously is fair. Even saying that with UNLV's track record of hires, doubt is there.

My point is, that if we believe that UNLV is the sports cesspool we read here each day, how can we expect a star here. Or a angel donor?

Either the position sucks as we say, which rules out dream hires, or, we are not entirely correct, making the job have attraction.

 

[Rebel1986]

The position may suck in comparison to a major program, but there are many people with a decent amount of experience who would love to get the paycheck that comes with the job as AD at UNLV. I can't even find anything on the level of experience of harper except he was director of football operations at Arizona University back in 2003-2011. He has been at UNLV since 2011 in various positions, but I can't find anything that would make me believe he was a good candidate for the position beyond the fact he has been at UNLV for a decade. I guess we must hope he doesn't do as bad of a job as the rest of the athletic department has done for the last decade?