UNLV to hasten search for AD

Rather than waiting for the football season to end, as previously planned, UNLV is speeding up its search for a permanent athletic director.

No timetable was given for making the hire — it originally was planned for spring — but the university is assembling a search committee to find a replacement for Mike Hamrick, who left in August to become AD at Marshall, his alma mater.

Jerry Koloskie is handling the job on an interim basis.

The decision to move up the process raises two questions.

One, is it a signal from UNLV president Neal Smatresk that Mike Sanford’s future as football coach is on even shakier ground? Sanford, who is in his fifth season, is 13-41.

The president’s office did not comment, but Koloskie said not to read too much into the timing.

“I don’t think that had anything to do with it,” Koloskie said. “We still have a lot of the football season to go. With the interim position, it’s difficult to move the department forward. It’s a natural transition to start the process now.”

The other question is whether the focus will be hiring a local candidate because a sitting athletic director might prefer to wait until much later before considering another position.

But, again, Koloskie said such a conclusion shouldn’t be drawn.

“(Smatresk) said from the get-go it was going to be a national search,” Koloskie said. “From my perspective, I think anybody who’s interested can apply whenever they have an opportunity to do so. I don’t think it gives anybody locally more of an advantage.”

If UNLV does hire a local candidate, those most commonly mentioned have been Koloskie, MAACO Bowl Las Vegas executive director Tina Kunzer-Murphy and South Point Arena general manager Steve Stallworth.

Koloskie has been at UNLV for 26 years, spending the previous 10 as senior associate athletic director.

The other two played for the Rebels — Kunzer-Murphy in three sports and Stallworth as a quarterback on the football team. They also have worked in the athletic department.

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