Head of UNLV Decries Tarkanian Backers
Robert Maxson, president of the University of Nevada Las Vegas, defended his administration Monday while decrying a “campaign of dirty tricks” he claimed supporters of former basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian waged against the school.
Maxson, appearing in front of a legislative subcommittee in Las Vegas investigating events surrounding Tarkanian’s resignation, criticized those who have questioned his credibility and blamed them for trying to sabotage the university.
“My university has conducted itself in an ethical, moral way and I think this is a sad day,” Maxson said in an opening statement that lasted 1 hour 40 minutes.
Maxson said he was supportive of Tarkanian through the point last year when Tarkanian agreed to resign after the publication of photographs showing former players in a hot tub with convicted sports fixer Richard Perry.
Maxson accused Tarkanian and his supporters of then mounting an orchestrated campaign to discredit him and the university.
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