Wednesday, 04 December 2024

Jerry Tarkanian

Contest: The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Coaches 2024
Embed from Getty Images
Sport(s): Basketball
Statistics: 1 NCAA Division I Tournament (1990)
4 NCAA Division I Final Fours (1977, 1987, 1990 & 1991)
14 PCAA/Big West Regular Season Championships (1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 & 1992)
9 PCAA/Big West Tournament Wins (1972, 1973, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990 & 1991)
1 WAC Regular Season (2000)
1 WAC Tournament (2001)
1 WAC Coach of the Year Award (2001)
706-198 NCAA Record
9-11 NBA Record
Member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame

*Number Retired by Fresno State

*As a player
With Jerry Tarkanian, you knew two things; his team would be the most exciting one to watch on the court, and he would feud with the NCAA.

Tarkanian was continually battling the NCAA over alleged rules violations, so much so that when he fought back, it even reached the Supreme Court in 1988. No matter what he was going through, Tarkanian just kept winning. If anything, it probably made his players love him even more.

After 13 years as a head coach and community college coach in California schools, Tarkanian was hired to run the Long Beach State program in 1968. Tarkanian won the PCAA regular season four years in a row (1970-73), and UNLV poached him to coach the Runnin’ Rebels, which he did for 19 years.

While UNLV was still independent, Tarkanian brought UNLV to the Final Four in 1977. The Runnin' Rebels moved to the PCAA/Big West in 1982, and UNLV went to nine straight tournaments, where in that stretch, they went to three more Final Fours with a title coming in 1990. UNLV was now on the national basketball map thanks to Tarkanian, but constant battles with the NCAA made an offer by the San Antonio Spurs appealing, and he too their head coaching job in 1992.

Tarkanian only lasted 20 games with San Antonio as his vision and management's vision were chasms apart. He was fired but now had more time with his lawsuit against the NCAA.

Tarkanian returned to the college ranks with his alma mater, Fresno State, in 1995. Staying there until 2002, the Bulldogs never had a losing record and always participated in either the NCAA or NIT.

We are proud to nominate Jerry Tarkanian for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.

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