The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) sacked men’s basketball head coach Kevin Kruger following four seasons in which the team struggled to earn an NCAA Tournament berth.
As the Runnin’ Rebels begin their quest for a new commander, numerous prospective candidates have arisen.
UNLV Head Coaching Hunt: Top 5 Candidates to Replace Kevin Kruger
Erick Harper, UNLV sports director, admitted the leadership change on X. This time, Harper is tasked with hiring a coach to end the Rebels’ 12-year NCAA Tournament drought.
Change In Leadership Announced https://t.co/Yxu0ffW6Rl pic.twitter.com/8MqG5XYD5s
— UNLV Men’s Basketball (@TheRunninRebels) March 15, 2025
Here are five prospects who could help UNLV return to prominence:
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Carlin Hartman, Florida associate head coach
Hartman, 52, is in his third season with the Gators and has over 25 years of collegiate experience, including multiple connections to the Rebels.
He spent one season as an assistant coach on Kruger’s staff in 2021-22, having previously worked five seasons at Oklahoma for Kevin’s father, Lon Kruger. Hartman’s last three full seasons with the Sooners all resulted in NCAA Tournament appearances.
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Tony Bennett, Former Virginia Head Coach
Yes, that Tony Bennett. The person who led Virginia to numerous No. 1 rankings and the 2018-19 national championship. Also, the same Bennett that abruptly retired before this season.
Hiring Bennett would be an absolute slam dunk for UNLV. Bennett stepped down because he said he couldn’t handle the evolving climate of college basketball, but he’d take over a mid-major program with the potential to be a sleeping giant.
In addition, he will be working under less pressure than he did in Charlottesville. Bennett is also from the West Region, having previously coached at Washington State before UVA.
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Eric Olen, UC San Diego
It’s time to introduce the first dark horse contender. Nonetheless, a quick riser who makes a lot of sense for UNLV.
Olen had a 15-game winning run into the Big West championship game. He achieved this feat in UC San Diego’s first year of NCAA Division I eligibility for conference tournaments and March Madness. Olen also has a 237-118 record as head coach.
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Craig Smith, Former Utah Coach
Smith, 52, was fired last month during his fourth season as the Utes slipped to 15-12.
He had a 65-62 record at Utah and had failed to make the NCAA Tournament. Last season, the Utes finished 22-15 and advanced to the semifinals of the National Invitation Tournament.
Smith is another potential candidate UNLV would have to evaluate based on previous experiences. Smith went to Utah after winning 72-24 in three seasons at Utah State, including two NCAA Tournament appearances.
The Aggies were on track to make the NCAA Tournament the previous season, but the COVID-19 outbreak interrupted their journey.
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Josh Pastner, Former Georgia Tech Coach
Pastner, 47, currently works as a television studio analyst, but he expressed an intention to return to coaching after Georgia Tech sacked him in 2023.
UNLV could regard him as a comparable hire to Mullen, who worked in television after Florida let him go.
Pastner went 109-114 in seven seasons with Georgia Tech, making one NCAA Tournament appearance, after going 167-73 with four NCAA bids in seven seasons at Memphis.
As UNLV assesses these prospects, one goal remains constant: to restore the Runnin’ Rebels to their historic status in NCAA basketball.
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