UNLV Investigation Is Voted Down by Regents
In a move that angered supporters of former Nevada Las Vegas basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian, University of Nevada System regents voted, 5-4, Tuesday against an independent investigation of Tarkanian’s charges that UNLV administrators conspired to damage his program.
The vote set off an angry reaction by supporters of Tarkanian. His supporters yelled at regents and tried to argue with them as the meeting ended.
The outburst prompted regent Joe Foley to call the Tarkanian supporters an “unruly mob.”
Said regent Dorothy Gallagher: “We have investigated entirely, and I for one am satisfied with the answers which have been given to us. It is not the duty of this board to turn into an investigative body.”
Tarkanian showed up at the meeting, saying he was invited by regents chairwoman Carolyn Sparks to be a voluntary witness. The former coach received a lecture from Foley, who told Tarkanian that if he wanted an investigation, he should hire someone to do it for him.
Foley said Tarkanian resigned only because UNLV President Robert Maxson would have fired him if he did not.
“Who needs an investigation to establish that fact?” Foley asked.
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