Spencetology

Fire Yourself

A once prominent, national respected basketball program has been completely leveled during the past three months. Thanks, in part…okay mostly, in part, to UNLV athletic director Tina Kunzer-Murphy.

It all began with the firing of head coach Dave Rice on January 10th. The “mutual parting of ways” followed three consecutive, tight conference losses. Despite wins over Oregon (Elite 8) and Indiana (Sweet 16), Rice was replaced by one of his assistants, Todd Simon. The move to promote the only coach on the bench with zero college coaching experience angered the rest of the bench.

Simon has since left to head up Southern Utah’s program. Both Ryan Miller, and UNLV legend, Stacey Augmon also left the program. Ten players on the roster either graduated, transferred or declared that they would turn professional, leaving UNLV with only two scholarship players. Two highly-regarded recruits have also officially bailed.

The joke of coaching search, initially, aimed high throwing out names like Louisville’s Rick Pitino and Pitt’s Jamie Dixon. Then the focus changed to Cincinnati’s Mick Cronin who, allegedly, verbally agreed to head up the program but then changed his find upon returning to the Queen City.

Eventually, the job was offered and accepted by former Arkansas-Little Rock coach Chris Beard who lasted a week before paying a million dollars to move to Lubbock, Texas to head up Texas Tech. Understand, Tech found a new coach and made a decision in 48 hours. After three months, UNLV has yet to get it right.

At the writing of this blog, the consensus is that New Mexico State coach Marvin Menzies will be the fourth UNLV head coach in three months.

It has been, quite possibly, the most bungled coaching search in the history of college basketball.

Here’s the story, told in musical form, to Justin Bieber’s “Love Yourself.” My Song of the Week, dedicated to UNLV AD Tina Kunzer-Murphy is “Fire Yourself.” #FireTKM