Whitfield & Harper

[unlove]

The RebelNet community has been justifiably tough on UNLV leadership over the years. Decades of ineptitude - not only in athletics but particularly in athletics - seemingly squandered a chance for a P4 invite. Fortunately, the combo of Whitfield and Harper has completely turned around our fortunes. They haven’t wasted the value of Fertitta, Allegiant, and the gravitas of LV. Harper has managed the hiring process like a pro while Whitfield has not micro-managed athletics but let the AD do his job (despite continued meddling by regents who feel like it’s their job to be involved in every detail of the institution). Kudos to KW & Harp. They’ve done what we’ve begged to happen for years. Perhaps it’s time to turn the page on the past narrative when it comes to the current leadership and give them they’re due.

 

[Meister_Rebel]

Harper needs a pay raise. He has proven his value. It would hurt UNLV to lose him imo.

 

[unlove]

Harper needs a pay raise. He has proven his value. It would hurt UNLV to lose him imo.

Agreed. Last thing we need is a new AD with a different approach who is not on the same page as Mullen.

 

[Stoker016]

Our next priority should not be basketball and replacing KK. Our next priority needs to be extending Harper at a significantly higher pay level. Basketball can wait.

 

[rebel5280]

Our next priority should not be basketball and replacing KK. Our next priority needs to be extending Harper at a significantly higher pay level. Basketball can wait.

I completely disagree!

 

[Stoker016]

I completely disagree!

If we dont extend Harper and raise, he will be gone within 6 months. Basketball requires an entire rebuild and new coach. Harper has proven to be the man for that. Keeping him needs to be our priority. Then he can replace KK.

 

[Doneoett]

If we dont extend Harper and raise, he will be gone within 6 months. Basketball requires an entire rebuild and new coach. Harper has proven to be the man for that. Keeping him needs to be our priority. Then he can replace KK.

With the right coach a rebuild can almost be done overnight. Harper will be gone soon with raise or no raise. Now is the time to strike while the iron is hot. Football has UNLV in the national spotlight and with hopefully with an equally impressive basketball hire we can hopefully become the Best in the West in the big 2 sports.

 

[Meister_Rebel]

Mullen looks cool in those Van's. Even Harper is checking them out. And, why can't we get some gray balloons. Just saying.

 

[rebel5280]

If we dont extend Harper and raise, he will be gone within 6 months. Basketball requires an entire rebuild and new coach. Harper has proven to be the man for that. Keeping him needs to be our priority. Then he can replace KK.

Basketball can be fixed much quicker than you think, no reason to keep Kevin!
He is not getting it done and those who think we should stay the course are freaking crazy!

Hiring a former HC in basketball does not have to break the bank besides Harper has moved mountains before, who’s to say he can’t do that again as far as fundraising goes!

 

[j. spilotro]

With the right coach a rebuild can almost be done overnight. Harper will be gone soon with raise or no raise. Now is the time to strike while the iron is hot. Football has UNLV in the national spotlight and with hopefully with an equally impressive basketball hire we can hopefully become the Best in the West in the big 2 sports.

Could be the case …. But I don’t think he’s looking to leave UNLV. Some people have their eyes peeled and actively search … others may wait until something drops in their lap and there’s an offer they can’t refuse … others are immovable. He’s one of the last two …

 

[j. spilotro]

Mullen looks cool in those Van's. Even Harper is checking them out. And, why can't we get some gray balloons. Just saying.

If you look closely, that water cooler back there has the same color as the sheen from the Rebel red during Menzies second or third year. Ugliest crap ever. Really showed heavy on the grays. I wonder who saw those and said yeah, these are sharp, they really rep UNLV well …

 

[Meister_Rebel]

If you look closely, that water cooler back there has the same color as the sheen from the Rebel red during Menzies second or third year. Ugliest crap ever. Really showed heavy on the grays. I wonder who saw those and said yeah, these are sharp, they really rep UNLV well …

Is it that orange thing behind the gray trash can?

 

[RebelinWA]

Could be the case …. But I don’t think he’s looking to leave UNLV. Some people have their eyes peeled and actively search … others may wait until something drops in their lap and there’s an offer they can’t refuse … others are immovable. He’s one of the last two …

It helps that his wife also works for UNLV.

 

[Rosegreen1]

If you look closely, that water cooler back there has the same color as the sheen from the Rebel red during Menzies second or third year. Ugliest crap ever. Really showed heavy on the grays. I wonder who saw those and said yeah, these are sharp, they really rep UNLV well …

It’s a Gatorade cooler man.

 

[ckfitz]

I completely disagree!

Harper has done a tremendous job. Show him a huge increase.

 

[rebel5280]

Harper has done a tremendous job. Show him a huge increase.

Let me be clear, a raise for the AD, YES!
Keep Kevin for any reason, NO!

 

[Rebel Hoya]

Our next priority should not be basketball and replacing KK. Our next priority needs to be extending Harper at a significantly higher pay level. Basketball can wait.

Multiple things can get done at the same time. Basketball has needed to be addressed for a long time. An empty T&M and National irrelevance is terrible for the university but easily fixable (easier than football) with a real coach.

 

[rebel5280]

Multiple things can get done at the same time. Basketball has needed to be addressed for a long time. An empty T&M and National irrelevance is terrible for the university but easily fixable (easy than football) with a real coach.

Especially agree with these parts!

 

[j. spilotro]

Basketball is an easy fix. If we are paying over 3M (with a higher commitment towards football), basketball should be a cinch with 2.5M or so per year. And we should not get … well, it looked a tiny bit better/different year one, oh, lookie! A tiny bit better year 2, maybe we can be a 15 seed in year three.

Sorry, that slow growth mindset/acceptance has been part of what has killed this program. Never again. You’re getting paid, get to work, make it show on the court. Lindy did it, Odom did it. That should be the standard if you really want to count in college athletic. Pay the money, get the coach, get the results. If not, gtfoh. IMO.

 

[dcut03]

It will be an interesting decision for basketball. I dont think think there will be money to make a home run hire, but you can shoot your shot with another up and comer.
But it thimk we are looking at a 1 mil per year coach max. Can that get us better value than Kevin? Perhaps.
I have been preaching patience with Kevin, but I have also said that he needs to get better. Well the offense ir lack thereof is awful. No assists in an entire half is just bad basketball. And the defense is predictable and I'm sick of watching teams exploit our over helping tendencies to get wide open shots and/or secure rebounds because everyone everyone leave their man for the ball and no one is blocking out.
Kevin deserves credit for the big wins last year. He doesn't get that at all here. But the template is out on how to beat us and nothing has been done to counter that.
I think we have the talent this year to be a top 50 team. A top PG and a super efficient 5 should yield better results

 

[rebel5280]

It will be an interesting decision for basketball. I dont think think there will be money to make a home run hire, but you can shoot your shot with another up and comer.
But it thimk we are looking at a 1 mil per year coach max. Can that get us better value than Kevin? Perhaps.
I have been preaching patience with Kevin, but I have also said that he needs to get better. Well the offense ir lack thereof is awful. No assists in an entire half is just bad basketball. And the defense is predictable and I'm sick of watching teams exploit our over helping tendencies to get wide open shots and/or secure rebounds because everyone everyone leave their man for the ball and no one is blocking out.
Kevin deserves credit for the big wins last year. He doesn't get that at all here. But the template is out on how to beat us and nothing has been done to counter that.
I think we have the talent this year to be a top 50 team. A top PG and a super efficient 5 should yield better results

You are always worried about the money!
Weren’t you saying the same thing about football? The money can be found!
They just made a very good hire in football and also an increased commitment to the NIL. Guess what did that money!

Fact is you have no idea about what’s really going on behind the scenes as far as the money goes. They can find the money, it’s around and Harper seems to know how to work things, so quit worrying about it!

The only thing we can kind of agree on is we don’t need a Jay Wright to say yes. There are many coaches out there that fit the bill of former HC with experience running an entire program and they don’t need to paid the same as Mullen to get the job done here. The “slow roll” of let’s give the up and coming former AC time to learn on the job days should be done around here. Find the right guy and guess what, the money will suddenly appear. The money is not there for Kevin or guys like him but will all of a sudden be there for the “right” guy!

 

[Mojo702]

Mullen looks cool in those Van's. Even Harper is checking them out. And, why can't we get some gray balloons. Just saying.

I like that Mullen is wearing our colors

 

[j. spilotro]

It will be an interesting decision for basketball. I dont think think there will be money to make a home run hire, but you can shoot your shot with another up and comer.
But it thimk we are looking at a 1 mil per year coach max. Can that get us better value than Kevin? Perhaps.
I have been preaching patience with Kevin, but I have also said that he needs to get better. Well the offense ir lack thereof is awful. No assists in an entire half is just bad basketball. And the defense is predictable and I'm sick of watching teams exploit our over helping tendencies to get wide open shots and/or secure rebounds because everyone everyone leave their man for the ball and no one is blocking out.
Kevin deserves credit for the big wins last year. He doesn't get that at all here. But the template is out on how to beat us and nothing has been done to counter that.
I think we have the talent this year to be a top 50 team. A top PG and a super efficient 5 should yield better results

No way possible UNLV goes with an up and comer, somebody with low level D1 or a hot shot assistant.

We’ve had a couple “big wins” in conference. After the season was already squashed with OOC, and that’s even with a big win vs Creighton. You lose to South Presbyterian State, LMU and lose at home to a poor AFA by 30, you better have 8 big wins to make up for it.

There’s been zero value so far.

 

[lynaskin]

McNeese and Will Wade are in a battle with #25 Mississippi St on ESPNU (team that beat us by 22)

 

[j. spilotro]

McNeese and Will Wade are in a battle with #25 Mississippi St on ESPNU (team that beat us by 22)

I’d take Wade in a heartbeat, black cloud and all.

 

[RebelSoldat]

Were the Rolovich rumors legit? If so, Harper and Whitfield may not have a problem with going after "controversial" candidates

 

[j. spilotro]

Were the Rolovich rumors legit? If so, Harper and Whitfield may not have a problem with going after "controversial" candidates

Maybe C List.

 

[rebel5280]

McNeese and Will Wade are in a battle with #25 Mississippi St on ESPNU (team that beat us by 22)

Love this name!

 

[ckfitz]

Basketball is an easy fix. If we are paying over 3M (with a higher commitment towards football), basketball should be a cinch with 2.5M or so per year. And we should not get … well, it looked a tiny bit better/different year one, oh, lookie! A tiny bit better year 2, maybe we can be a 15 seed in year three.

Sorry, that slow growth mindset/acceptance has been part of what has killed this program. Never again. You’re getting paid, get to work, make it show on the court. Lindy did it, Odom did it. That should be the standard if you really want to count in college athletic. Pay the money, get the coach, get the results. If not, gtfoh. IMO.

Doesn't that all depend upon additional donors stepping up to cure our basketball's ills? How much more money do you think is left over to get to this important priority?

 

[Rebel1986]

Doesn't that all depend upon additional donors stepping up to cure our basketball's ills? How much more money do you think is left over to get to this important priority?

The highest paid basketball coach in the MWC is SDSU at $2.3 million, only two other coaches make over $1 million. Currently Kruger makes around $800 which is most likely in the middle of the conference. They should easily be able to get a much better coach spending $1.5 million, $2.5 million would be the Cadillac of the MWC! Utah State coach makes around $950,000 per year and they are just outside of being ranked in the top 25. I guess they get a much better bang for the buck than UNLV! Based on the number of wins, Utah State currently has a win (10) for every $95,000 of the coaches salary, and UNLV has a win (5) for every $160,000 of the coaches salary. No doubt which coach will end up providing the biggest bang for the buck by the end of the season.

 

[1Tripoda]

Yes, they should be really focusing making basketball into something again. For good fuking sake, what Will Wade did was not that serious at all by today NIL standard. Get Wade here and give him supports and let him do his thing.

 

[dcut03]

You are always worried about the money!
Weren’t you saying the same thing about football? The money can be found!
They just made a very good hire in football and also an increased commitment to the NIL. Guess what did that money!

Fact is you have no idea about what’s really going on behind the scenes as far as the money goes. They can find the money, it’s around and Harper seems to know how to work things, so quit worrying about it!

The only thing we can kind of agree on is we don’t need a Jay Wright to say yes. There are many coaches out there that fit the bill of former HC with experience running an entire program and they don’t need to paid the same as Mullen to get the job done here. The “slow roll” of let’s give the up and coming former AC time to learn on the job days should be done around here. Find the right guy and guess what, the money will suddenly appear. The money is not there for Kevin or guys like him but will all of a sudden be there for the “right” guy!

You think there is more money out there after Mullen?

Harper can probably get some outside, perhaps casino money to pitch in for football because there has been real interest in the communuty.

Last year we beat a bunch of ranked teams in basketball and no one cared.

There need to be value for the investment. Football has done that, basketball has not.

Sure if basketball didn't lose the unforgivable games then maybe there would be a bit more fan interest.

But College basketball isn't big time anymore. Ratings and attendance have been down across the country. College football is the second or third most watched sport in this country. It makes sense to invest in a sport that matters significantly nationally.

We shot our wad with Mullen, which is what we should have done. If this pays off and we get out of this conference, then it will be worth it. But right now, I do not realistically think we can poney up 2 mil + for a basketball coach, plus NIL for both sports.

Especially knowing Harper needs a raise too.

We have barely been able to keep our head above water as it is. And there is no name out there that we can afford that will realistically instantly increase basketball revenue.

 

[1Tripoda]

You think there is more money out there after Mullen?

Harper can probably get some outside, perhaps casino money to pitch in for football because there has been real interest in the communuty.

Last year we beat a bunch of ranked teams in basketball and no one cared.

There need to be value for the investment. Football has done that, basketball has not.

Sure if basketball didn't lose the unforgivable games then maybe there would be a bit more fan interest.

But College basketball isn't big time anymore. Ratings and attendance have been down across the country. College football is the second or third most watched sport in this country. It makes sense to invest in a sport that matters significantly nationally.

We shot our wad with Mullen, which is what we should have done. If this pays off and we get out of this conference, then it will be worth it. But right now, I do not realistically think we can poney up 2 mil + for a basketball coach, plus NIL for both sports.

Especially knowing Harper needs a raise too.

We have barely been able to keep our head above water as it is. And there is no name out there that we can afford that will realistically instantly increase basketball revenue.

I refuse to let Dan Hurley and his UConn rule the ball world. Man, I said this about kazillion years ago, In Vegas...there are money. You just need people to find it. Find the money and invest in UNLV basketball.

 

[TimothyC3]

Just offer Gregg Marshall a $1 mill and see what happens. If he wants to coach again I would think he would give it serious consideration. Also, Harper has a lot of good will right now and it won’t ruffle too many feathers. In fact, few would pay much attention IMO.

 

[j. spilotro]

Just offer Gregg Marshall a $1 mill and see what happens. If he wants to coach again I would think he would give it serious consideration. Also, Harper has a lot of good will right now and it won’t ruffle too many feathers. In fact, few would pay much attention IMO.

Marshall or Wade. I’m cool with it.

Yeah, Marshall is a big meanie. So fn what? He wins. Yeah, that sinner Wade cheated. Who cares? He wins.

Let’s make UNLV UNLV again and stop being untrue to our history.

 

[1Tripoda]

Marshall or Wade. I’m cool with it.

Yeah, Marshall is a big meanie. So fn what? He wins. Yeah, that sinner Wade cheated. Who cares? He wins.

Let’s make UNLV UNLV again and stop being untrue to our history.

The name Rebels mean that we are Rebellious . We are not ones who conform to the rules and the laws. We are Rebels. For the love of God bring back the spirit!

 

[Boston Rebel 2]

Marshall or Wade. I’m cool with it.

Yeah, Marshall is a big meanie. So fn what? He wins. Yeah, that sinner Wade cheated. Who cares? He wins.

Let’s make UNLV UNLV again and stop being untrue to our history.

Marshall in particular...I have learned from this experience and have found alternative ways to coach my players that doesn't involve verbal abuse and plan to coach in a manner that makes them feel comfortable....blah blah blah. Throw in a stuffed comfort Llama for each player and call it a day.

 

[j. spilotro]

The name Rebels mean that we are Rebellious . We are not ones who conform to the rules and the laws. We are Rebels. For the love of God bring back the spirit!

I agree. That was a big part of the initial draw for me. I wasn’t attracted by the name Rebels, but the Rebels happened to be exactly that. The old school Tark guys dripped it. The winning, the style, that was incredible and necessary, but the “Rebel” cemented it in my heart.

It’s embarrassing the we now kowtow to squeaky clean, hide the past (until we can use it to serve a purpose), get rid of mascots because four people shed tears … we are anti-Rebel, we are woke, we are PCU and it’s heartbreaking to me.

No offense intended to current or former post Tark Rebs, but many are so Opie Vanilla they make Mr Rogers look like Snoop. They just aren’t Rebels. And they’d never see a Tark roster. There are a couple handfuls of exceptions …