UNLV Athletic Director to Resign Dec. 31 : Colleges: Rothermel’s ‘unexpected’ move is not likely to influence the NCAA’s investigation of basketball program.

Brad Rothermel, the athletic director who has guided the Nevada Las Vegas program for the past 10 years, has announced his resignation, effective Dec. 31.

“I just felt it was time for someone else to drive us into the year 2000,” Rothermel said at a news conference Wednesday.

He will return to teaching as a professor in the UNLV School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation.

Rothermel said a major goal had been to head a program involving a national champion. That goal was accomplished April 2, when the Runnin’ Rebels won the NCAA basketball championship at Denver, defeating Duke in a lopsided title game.

Rothermel said he decided Feb. 17 to leave the post, but withheld an announcement because he wanted to mull over the decision.

His announcement came as UNLV awaits word on the results of an NCAA investigation into the school’s basketball program; the results are expected this month.

Jim Haney, commissioner of the Big West Conference, called Rothermel’s resignation “unexpected” but said he did not anticipate that it would have any effect on the NCAA investigation.

“I don’t think the fact that there’s been a change at the athletic director’s level will change their approach significantly, but I’m just guessing,” Haney said. “I think that because of the fact that he’s planning to stay there and remain in the same position until the end of year, there probably will not be much impact.”

The other members of the Big West Conference, among them Cal State Fullerton and UC Irvine, are affected greatly by UNLV’s fortunes because of the national prominence and television revenue the Runnin’ Rebel basketball program has brought to the conference.

Rothermel and University President Robert Maxson addressed questions about the possibility of UNLV leaving the conference, saying that becoming an independent is not a viable option.

“I wouldn’t rule out any different league alignments,” Maxson said. “I am very mindful we’re very important to the Big West Conference and the Big West Conference is important to us.”

Haney praised Rothermel for maintaining balance between the interests of UNLV and the interests of the conference during his tenure.

“Brad is highly respected among the conference directors and presidents,” Haney said. “He is held in very high regard.”

Rothermel said that when he came to UNLV, the university had a $250,000 deficit in its athletic program. He said the program has operated in the black every year since then, finishing last year with a $1.5 million surplus. He said this year’s surplus will be even larger because of revenue from the Rebels’ NCAA appearances.

Rothermel headed the latest attempt to boost the school’s football program to national prominence, hiring Notre Dame assistant Jim Strong in December to replace Wayne Nunnely, who was fired.

Maxson praised Rothermel’s work and said he talked him out of taking an athletic director’s job at another major school three years ago.