Sanford: Program neglected

Mike Sanford insisted he wasn't frustrated or bitter, that he simply wanted to set the record straight for the good of UNLV football.

The fired coach blamed numerous factors for holding back the program, including a lack of community and university support as well as substandard facilities, but never mentioned himself as part of the problem.

"This is not a coach issue," Sanford said in his news conference Monday at the Lied Athletic Complex. "This is a system, infrastructure, commitment issue that I am concerned about.

"There's been more of a football commitment made at Reno from a facility standpoint than there has at UNLV. Our locker room is the worst locker room in college football.

"If people really want to win here, if they're going to hold the football coach and the football coaching staff here to a high standard, they need to put their money where their mouth is. I don't believe that's ever been done here. I don't believe it was done one bit during the time I was here."

Koloskie disputed Sanford's claim that the coach, whose salary is $425,000, wasn't given enough backing to win.

"I believe we have supported football," Koloskie said. "I think we have the resources in place for us to be successful. It was a performance-based decision. We just need to be better. I do believe we're fully funded. We have the scholarships available."

Sanford, 54, was fired Sunday, a day after the Rebels lost 45-17 at Air Force. UNLV is 4-7 this season and 15-43 in nearly five seasons under Sanford.

The team is off this week. Sanford and his staff will coach the Nov. 28 season finale against San Diego State at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Interim athletic director Jerry Koloskie said a search for a new coach will begin right away but that the hire will be made by the school's next AD; the search committee to fill that post next meets Dec. 1.

UNLV president Neal Smatresk said those applying to be athletic director should be "thinking about" who and what they want in a football coach.

"If they don't have a plan, I'd be pretty concerned about their foresight as an athletic director," Smatresk said.

Koloskie said negotiations are taking place regarding Sanford's buyout even though the coach is contractually owed $225,000 because the termination is technically after Dec. 4. Dismissing him before then would cost UNLV about $60,000 more.

Most of UNLV's veteran players weren't surprised by his firing.

"You realize if things don't go a certain way, certain things have to happen," quarterback Omar Clayton said. "(Sanford) is our head coach. Everyone sees him as our leader, so something had to happen.

"I think either the president or the athletic director did what they needed to do."

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Read the latest UNLV football updates at lvrj.com/blogs/unlv_sports.

MIKE SANFORD CHRONOLOGY AT UNLV

Dec. 6, 2004 -- Mike Sanford is hired as UNLV's ninth football coach. At his introductory news conference, he says, "Our expectation level should be, and my expectation level is, to win the Mountain West Conference championship, go to a bowl game and to be ranked in the top 20 in the nation every year."

Sept. 5, 2005 -- Sanford makes his head coaching debut. The Rebels fall behind at New Mexico 24-9 early in the fourth quarter, but rally before losing 24-22.

Sept. 8, 2006 -- UNLV nearly comes back to win at Iowa State, but a pass in the end zone is ruled incomplete. Sanford keeps his team on the field for about 15 minutes and searches for Iowa State's athletic director in what would become a YouTube clip.

Sept. 22, 2007 -- The Rebels stun Utah 27-0 to open 2-2, but that would be their final victory of the season.

Sept. 13, 2008 -- UNLV, a 23-point underdog, rallies from 10 points down in the fourth quarter to upset Arizona State 23-20 in overtime. Sanford calls it "the biggest win of my life."

Nov. 22, 2008 -- A potential bowl berth on the line, the Rebels lose 42-21 as 10-point favorites at San Diego State.

Jan. 21, 2009 -- Because of a three-win improvement in 2008, Sanford is given a three-year contract extension; the deal includes no pay raise and a $225,000 buyout.

Sept. 26, 2009 -- The Rebels lose 30-27 as 3-point favorites at Wyoming to open 2-2. Afterward, two players accuse some teammates of having not taken the game seriously enough.

Oct. 3, 2009 -- UNLV is routed 63-28 at UNR, Sanford's fifth consecutive loss against the upstate rival.

Oct. 5, 2009 -- UNLV president Neal Smatresk says Sanford will be watched "on a game-to-game basis."

Nov. 14, 2009 -- The Rebels lose 45-17 at Air Force, ensuring Sanford will again fail to post a winning season.

Nov. 15, 2009 -- Sanford is fired, effective Dec. 5.

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Comments

Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background.

1. Joe Citizen Nov. 21, 2009 | 10:16 a.m. Report Abuse

   $425k per year - plus perks? I'm not sure if it's true, but I've heard UNLV and the state are hurting financially. I say hire a coach that will be paid by accomplishments, not a salary. When they win, they get paid. If they meet other pre-determined goals, they get paid. This is called incentive. If coaches don't like it, don't apply. Short of dropping the program entirely, this is the most cost effective way to run the program. I think professors would find this to be fairer than the current compensation system.

2. Mike L. Nov. 18, 2009 | 12:20 p.m. Report Abuse

   I think that while coaching was definitely an issue in this case, there also is a lot of truth to what Sanford said at his press conference. The support and "real" dedication to the football team at UNLV just isn't there. UNLV is a basketball school and that is obvious. First, facilities are a huge problem when it comes to the chance to recruit higher-caliber players. The fact that a player can will come in on a visit, tour the school and practice facilities and then have to take a 30 minute ride to see the stadium is a BIG problem. I'm not saying I have the solution to all of this, but if there were a stadium near the school, it would help from that aspect. I know to all of us, Sanford's $400,000+ salary sounds like a lot, but it won't be enough to lure a great coach to UNLV.
   All of that being said, the coaching staff just didn't get it done. I think if the Rebs had won last year at SDSU and gone to a bowl, it would have bought Sanford another year. The reality is that the program improved every year under Sanford up until this year (if we beat SDSU, we'll match last year's record). While we did have a few 2-win season, we were more competitive every year and nearly got to a bowl last year. The bottom line is the defense didn't get it done and the offense, while being very good, wasn't good enough to carry the team all year. I don't think it's fair to call Sanford "the worst coach in history." The fact that we actually had expectations this year refutes that comment.

3. JD Nov. 17, 2009 | 6:45 p.m. Report Abuse

   I think Sanford has some good points. Starting with the community which includes this newspaper the LVRJ. How many articles were in print about BYU rather than the home town team Rebels. I comment and comment about it and I even get nasty comments from the writers. Saying it is not the newspapers job to promote UNLV. Then things are not going to change. The Utah papers are loaded with articles from August to November solid. Yes, two major programs like Utah and BYU give more to write about. But the coverage for UNLV football is down right embarassing. Also, all those that don't get that the facilities are the problem don't understand that when you recruit a player and they see what is available at other schools. The talent goes elsewhere. No the locker did not put up 63 points on UNLV, but it did scare away some talent that could have played better defense. I love how the LVRJ is all over this firing....where were you when the team needed you and your power of the press? Oh that's right...covering BYU.

4. outspoken Nov. 17, 2009 | 5:38 p.m. Report Abuse

   Okay, blame the fans and UNLV for your coaching mistakes. I could coach better from the stands. Bring in Norm Chow or Phil Fulmer!

5. Ricky Nov. 17, 2009 | 4:50 p.m. Report Abuse

   Yeah,Sam Boyd is a real hell hole and yet if UNLV won just 7 OR 8 games just imagine how large the crowds would be and how little complaints there would be about the stadium. You start to win and you will be amazed at the fan base-look at the crowds at the T&M,not too long ago we were getting only 4,000 a game. We cannot spend money on this program until there is some success-just win 2 more games than last year,is that impossible?

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