How will president's departure impact UNLV athletics?

LAS VEGAS — Monday’s sudden and unexpected announcement from Keith Whitfield that he was resigning as president of UNLV sent shockwaves throughout the campus. And athletics was no exception.

The athletic department, which has been operating at a deficit of $21 million while Whitfield was in charge, will get out from under its debt thanks to a $27 million deal to remain a member of the Mountain West Conference through 2032. Whitfield, who was president and helped craft that deal rather than leave for another conference, ultimately believed the school was better served staying in the Mountain West rather than pursue membership in the Pacific 12 or make a long-shot run at joining the Big 12.

His departure comes at an important time for the school’s athletic program. The conference basketball tournament begins next week at the Thomas & Mack Center and the fate of men’s basketball coach Kevin Kruger could be determined shortly thereafter. Thanks to a late-season run which has seen them win three straight and six of their last seven, the Runnin’ Rebels are 17-13 overall and are 11-8 in Mountain West play after defeating San Diego State Tuesday night. However, their only path to the NCAA Tournament is to win four games in four days and take the postseason tourney and earn the conference’s automatic bid.

Erick Harper, the school’s athletic director who has worked closely with Whitfield, may not have the authority to make a change. Christopher Heavey, UNLV’s executive vice president and provost, will be in charge of the university for now. He may tell Harper to hold off on changing coaches until a permanent president is in place. That process could take months.

In the meantime, Kruger has one year remaining on his contract and is to be paid $800,000 for 2025-26. For all we know, Harper had already discussed his basketball coach’s future with Whitfield and maybe had his mind made up one way or the other. But with Whitfield now gone, perhaps that changes.
Harper has been maintaining radio silence regarding Kruger, which he should. After all, he doesn’t need to add to the distractions a coach on the hot seat goes through.

Men’s basketball has been the university’s bellwether athletic program, even before Jerry Tarkanian came to Las Vegas and brought national prominence to UNLV. It needs to be successful, both on and off the court. UNLV last won an NCAA Tournament game in 2008 when Kevin Kruger’s father Lon was the coach. The team has not been to the NCAA’s since 2013 when Dave Rice was in charge. It’s little wonder the crowds have been what they’ve been.

As for Harper himself, what happens if Whitfield’s permanent replacement doesn’t share his vision for athletics? What if he or she wants to join the Big 12 or the Pac-12? How will that person be ready to deal with the every-changing world of college athletics, the NCAA, the transfer portal and Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) and the out-in-the-open business that is college sports?  

These are choppy waters that presidents from coast to coast are attempting to navigate. Whitfield seemed to have somewhat of a grasp of what he was dealing with. Working hand-in-hand with Harper, they were able to get the struggling football program on solid footing where the school had its most successful two-year run in history with Barry Odom running things. The hope is Dan Mullen can continue the Rebels’ winning ways this fall.

The school’s NIL program will get a major shot in the arm by participating in the Players Era Men’s Championship tournament
this coming November at the MGM Grand Garden which guarantees $1 million per school.

It’s an important piece to the business pie, but not the only one. Attendance at men’s basketball has been down as have donations to the school’s athletic program. In assessing whether or not to make a coaching change Harper has to look at the business side of the ledger. And when he sees all those empty red seats night after night in the Thomas & Mack Center, it likely helps shape his decision.

Heavey has been around UNLV for three decades. I’m sure he and Harper have some sort of relationship. How close is it, I have no idea. But they will be working together in the short term to get the athletic department financially solvent and successful on the field of competition.

Oh, and one other thing. While Whitfield was president, UNLV canceled Hey Reb, its long-time mascot. Will the next president revive Hey Reb? Will the school opt for a new nickname and mascot? Fans and boosters have clamored for Hey Reb’s return while others would prefer the mascot remain retired. It’s one more thing whoever takes over will have to address.

Whitfield brought stability to the 7th floor after UNLV had five different people sit in the president’s chair prior to his hiring in 2020. He served while a pandemic engulfed the country. He also saw record enrollment during his time as president. The 2023 shooting which saw three professors killed came under Whitfield’s watch. He also had to deal with on-campus protests in the wake of the Israeli hostage takeover and attacks on Gaza in 2023 and into 2024 which drew heavy criticism from both pro-Palestinian factions and Jewish students.

So as Whitfield departs and plans for a search for his successor begin, UNLV’s athletic department will operate with an uncertain eye toward the future. It’ll be up to Harper to keep things running smoothly until he meets his new boss. We’ll see if he’s up to the task.