Former Oregon AD Moos shows interest in vacant UNLV job

Various local prospects have been mentioned as potential candidates for the UNLV athletic director’s job.

Now add a national name.

Bill Moos, who more than doubled Oregon’s athletic budget while guiding the department for 12 years, said Thursday he is interested in the UNLV vacancy.

“I’ve got 25 years of experience in intercollegiate athletics, 17 of those as a Division I athletic director,” said Moos, 58. “We’re proud of what we accomplished.”

Jerry Koloskie, who also is interested in the position, has been serving in an interim capacity since athletic director Mike Hamrick left in August to become AD at Marshall.

The search committee met for the first time Wednesday and will convene again Dec. 1, the day after the cutoff for priority applications.

Moos led Oregon’s program from 1995 to 2007, increasing its budget from $18 million to $41 million to make the athletic department self-sufficient. During his stint, the Ducks won 13 Pacific-10 Conference championships, with two in football and three in men’s basketball (including the league tournament).

Moos said fundraising would be a high priority if he is hired by UNLV but acknowledged it would take time to get to know donors. He also said he wouldn’t make immediate changes.

“In the two programs I left at Montana and Oregon, you need to get a feel as far as the territory and the department,” Moos said. “I’m not one to come in and start breaking up the furniture.”

Since resigning from Oregon in early 2007 and reportedly receiving a contract settlement worth $1.825 million, Moos has lived with his family on a ranch near Spokane, Wash., The desire to return to athletics has returned, he said.

“If I was 10 or 15 years older, I probably wouldn’t, but I’ve got a lot of energy,” he said.

Also having expressed interest in the job are South Point Arena general manager Steve Stallworth and MAACO Bowl Las Vegas executive director Tina Kunzer-Murphy.

“I recognize I am so blessed that I’ll either work for my alma mater or for the greatest guy in the city in (South Point owner) Michael Gaughan,” Stallworth said. “Also, we win because there’s a new future for our athletic department.”

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914.