Jerry Tarkanian

Jerry Tarkanian was one of basketball’s all-time great characters. His eyes showed his emotion, and his sideline towel revealed his lean toward the superstitious. Tarkanian won more than 900 games in college, including the 1990 NCAA national championship at UNLV. His greatest success came at UNLV with four Final Fours and a number of NBA players at the next level. Tark The Shark coached at Long Beach State, Fresno State, and UNLV making the base of his operation for his entire career the West Coast. He was innovative, gutsy enough to play full-court pressure basketball and still get his players out on the fast break at every chance. His Runnin’ Rebels really were just that – college basketball’s fast-paced, rebellious gunners. Tarkanian’s career was often overshadowed by run-ins with the NCAA, but he was remarkably successful with his players both on the court and off for nearly 40 years.