UNLV hires High School Coach as new Head Coach

[CoachCB]

http://lasvegassun.com/news/2014/dec/10/tony-sanchez-unlv/

Five days after winning his sixth straight state championship at Bishop Gorman High, Tony Sanchez will officially trade in his blue and orange for scarlet and gray.



After weeks of speculation that focused almost exclusively on Sanchez, UNLV announced this afternoon that he would become the Rebels’ 11th football coach in program history. Sanchez will be introduced at a press conference at 1 p.m. Thursday in the Stan Fulton Building on UNLV’s campus.

He replaces Bobby Hauck, who resigned last month after five seasons and a 15-49 record.


Sanchez has almost no college experience, serving as a graduate assistant for one season at his alma mater, New Mexico State, before beginning his high school coaching career. His final career record with the Gaels is 85-5, including an undefeated record this year and an expected mythical national championship.


The decision to select Sanchez, which has been rumored for the past several weeks, is expected to come with a significant financial contribution from the community. UFC CEO and chairman Lorenzo Fertitta donated significant amounts to Bishop Gorman during Sanchez’s record run with the Gaels.


His hire is pending approval from the Nevada State Board of Regents. They’ve scheduled a special meeting for 1:30 p.m. Dec. 16 to approve his contract.

 

[rivercitybirdie]

i think it could be a good move... i think beyond the BCS conferences just do whatever works... should improve interest locally, and a program like that probably needs energy/enthusiasm as much as anything.....and i would think big-time high school coach could be a great recruiter (of course UNLV probably needs texas and cali kids in large numbers).

i am trying to think of high school coaches.... faust at ND? .....guy at north texas (i think it was north texas.... dodge? his son was a star QB recruit at texas and ended up played QB/WR for dad at NT i think). probably lots more obscure ones i don't know about.

BTW, didn't know UNLV fired their coach. but i kind of take a break after the last week of CFB (with apologies to army/navy)

 

[BigdaddyQH]

UNLV has had 6 seasons out of their past 11 where they won two games. They have been to one bowl during this time, and crushed in that game. They are 1-9 S/U against state rival Nevada in their last 10 meetings. They have absolutely nothing to lose.

 

[CoachCB]

The only concerning thing (as an outside observer) to me, is that the guy only has 1 year of college coaching experience. He should focus on hiring a couple of very experienced assistants (that have a lot of college experience w/ recruiting especially).

UNLV has just been bad. They hired Mike Sanford in 2005, who was an Urban Meyer assistant at Utah....and he failed miserably. Even John Robinson was 28-42 there.

I'm not sure what the winning formula is at a school like that, but hiring a HS coach seems risky. Look at Wyoming. They brought in the guy from North Dakota State (Bohl). He won 3 1AA National Championships. He went 4-8 this year, but they were improved. I would think finding a stud 1AA coach vs. a stud HS coach would be a better move.

Will be interesting to see how this guy does....and good for him. He's probably getting one hell of a pay raise.

 

[sendacash]

Gotta be a tough sell to walk into a living room and tell mom that I want your 18yo son to come to Vegas to go to school lol. Maybe someone who could bring the Nevada high school kids in is the way to go? Who knows

 

[GoSooners]

Gotta be a tough sell to walk into a living room and tell mom that I want your 18yo son to come to Vegas to go to school lol. Maybe someone who could bring the Nevada high school kids in is the way to go? Who knows

If I was the UNLV coach I would bring plenty of casino coupon books with me on recruiting trips to hand out to the moms. You would be surprised, you could probably sell some of these poor moms on a $2 slot pull at Caesars..