TINA'S TAKE - JANUARY 2015

The beginning of a new year and a new semester always brings with it a spirit of anticipation and optimism, and that's certainly the case at UNLV Athletics.

The announcement of Tony Sanchez as our new Football coach has generated unprecedented local and national interest in UNLV Football. Coach Sanchez and our program have been featured in national media such as SI.com, CBSSportsline.com, USAToday.com and ESPN's The Herd with Colin Cowherd. Coach Sanchez has moved quickly to build a highly experienced and accomplished staff of assistant coaches, accelerate recruiting and most importantly, begin changing the culture of UNLV Football.

In Basketball, we are seeing just how talented our young teams are, with the Runnin' Rebels thrilling victory over then No. 3-ranked Arizona and the Lady Rebels conference-opening win against Wyoming. We have also seen the growing pains that are inevitable as highly talented student-athletes mature and fully understand what it takes to compete, and succeed, on a consistent basis at the highest levels of NCAA basketball.

Under the direction of legendary coach Jim Reitz, our Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving teams are building momentum and will once again challenge for top honors in the Mountain West (women) and Western Athletic Conference (men) championship meets next month in San Antonio.

And our spring sports - Men's and Women's Golf, Men's and Women's Tennis, Baseball, Softball and Women's Track - all begin their preparations for the 2015 season in the coming days.

As we begin 2015, it's worth taking a look back at some of the outstanding accomplishments by our student-athletes and coaches during the past 12 months:

UNLV Men's Swimming won the 2014 Western Athletic Conference Championship and finished in the Top 20 (19th) at the 2014 NCAA Championship - the highest finish of any program from a non-Resource 5 Conference. Head Coach Jim Reitz, who is in his 35th season at UNLV, was named WAC Coach of the Year;



UNLV Baseball shared the 2014 Mountain West Regular-Season Championship and advanced to the NCAA Regionals for the first time since 2005. Head Coach Tim Chambers was honored as Mountain West Coach of the Year;

UNLV Men's Golf qualified for the NCAA Regionals for the 26th consecutive season - an NCAA record for consecutive appearances - while our Women's Golf Team made its 12th consecutive appearance in the NCAA Regionals;

We also saw UNLV student-athletes advance to the NCAA Championships on an individual basis in Women's Golf and Women's Track and Field, and be selected in the Major League Baseball professional draft;

UNLV Men's Soccer won the 2014 Western Athletic Conference Regular Season and Tournament titles, posted a 14-5-3 record and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1988. Head Coach Rich Ryerson (a UNLV alum) was named Western Athletic Conference Coach of the Year and a school-record four players earned First Team All-West Region honors;

In 2014, UNLV Volleyball set a school record for total wins (26) and conference wins (14) while finishing second in the Mountain West. Head Coach Cindy Fredrick was honored as Mountain West Coach of the Year, while four student-athletes were named to the All-Conference Team;

For 2013-14, 50 percent of UNLV student-athletes attained a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher;

Between Fall 2013 and Spring 2014, more than 200 student-athletes were named to the UNLV Dean's Honors List, which requires a semester GPA greater than 3.5 in at least 12 academic credits;

And in 2013-14, UNLV once again claimed the Governor's Series Trophy, presented by NV Energy and sponsored by Barrick Gold, in our annual athletic and academic competition with Nevada, Reno, by a 30-18 margin.

As we congratulate our student-athletes and coaches on their remarkable success in 2014, and look ahead with great optimism to 2015, it is important to say thank you for the support you provide to UNLV Athletics. Whether it's through attendance at our sporting events, a contribution to the Rebel Athletic Fund, or simply sharing your enthusiasm for the UNLV Rebels with friends and neighbors, your support makes a huge difference - and we are so very grateful.

Best wishes for a wonderful 2015, and go Rebels!

Tina Kunzer-Murphy
UNLV Director of Athletics