Finfrock Resigns Interim Post at UNLV

Saying he was no longer willing to “fight the fight,” Dennis Finfrock resigned as interim athletic director at Nevada Las Vegas Friday and announced that he was withdrawing his name from consideration for the post.

Finfrock, who had held the interim job for 14 months and reportedly was in line to take over permanently, cited the toll that the job had taken on his family.

“In carrying out my assignments, it was necessary for me to take steps that were not always popular in the athletic department and among a powerful and vocal segment of our community,” Finfrock said in a prepared statement.

” . . . The resistance to change was far greater than I could ever have anticipated. I am proud of our success. However, change has been costly to me and my family.”

Supporters of Jerry Tarkanian, UNLV basketball coach, have claimed that Finfrock and university President Robert Maxson engaged in a conspiracy to oust Tarkanian, who announced in June that the 1991-92 season would be his last at the school.

Tarkanian’s announcement followed the publication of a photograph showing three former Rebel players socializing with convicted sports fixer Richard Perry.

Maxson said he attempted to talk Finfrock into changing his mind about resigning, but that Finfrock was adamant.

Maxson said Finfrock will return to his previous job as director of UNLV’s Thomas and Mack Center and Sam Boyd Silver Bowl.

UNLV is expected to select an athletic director by the end of the year.