It’s been 33 days since UNLV fired head coach Mike Sanford and began its search for a new sideline boss.
While that might seem like an inordinate amount of time to allow to go by without naming a new coach, the fact they were simultaneously searching for a new athletic director did play a “small” part in the process.
The search for a new coach should gain steam in rapid-fire fashion, however, as Jim Livengood was named as the Rebels’ new A.D, earlier this week. During the press conference announcing his hiring, Livengood gave a hint as to just what he will be looking for in Sanford’s replacement.
And that hint could be summed up in one word: experienced.
“In terms of where we are now, I think that is better served by someone who’s been in that seat,” Livengood said. “This will sound offensive, but I don’t mean it like this, but probably not the right place right now to try and learn about the job.”
That would seemingly rule out Arizona offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes, who’s never been a head coach at the collegiate level but has been rumored to be a candidate.
Based on Livengood’s qualifications, there appear to be two favorites -- former TCU/Alabama/Texas A&M head coach Dennis Franchione and current Montana head coach Bobby Hauck.
Hauck’s school fell in the Div. 1-AA championship game, 23-21, to Villanova Friday night.