March 5, 2003

LAS VEGAS - Former University of Toledo assistant Garrick McGee has been named wide receivers coach for UNLV football, head coach John Robinson announced Wednesday.

McGee, who will turn 30 next month, replaces DelVaughn Alexander, who left after three seasons for a similar position at Oregon State.

McGee just completed his first season at Toledo, which defeated UNLV on September 21 and will come to Sam Boyd Stadium on August 30 to open the 2003 campaign.

"Garrick McGee is widely considered to be one of the brightest young men in coaching," Robinson said. "He'll have an immediate impact on our program and has a lot of talent coming back with which to work."

During the 2002 season, which included a trip to the Motor City Bowl, Rocket receivers caught 309 passes for 3,611 yards and 25 touchdowns while senior Carl Ford became the first 1,000-yard receiver in Toledo history, finishing with 79 grabs for 1,042 yards and a school-record-tying nine scores. Overall, the Rockets finished 29th in the nation in passing with 257 yards per game.

Before joining Toledo, McGee spent two seasons as offensive quality control coach with the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars. He headed to the NFL after coaching the receivers at Northern Iowa in 1999. He began his coaching career at Langston (Okla.) University, where he spent three years (1996-98).

A native of Tulsa, McGee began his college playing career at Arizona State in 1991-92. After a year in junior college at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, he transferred to Oklahoma and played two seasons at quarterback for the Sooners. McGee left ranked fourth on the school's career passing list with 2,449 yards and earned Big Eight Conference Newcomer of the Year as a junior in 1994. He earned his degree from OU in 1996.