May 7, 2003

LAS VEGAS - Former Runnin' Rebel Vince Booker has been hired to the UNLV men's basketball staff as director of basketball operations, head coach Charlie Spoonhour announced Wednesday.

Booker, 23, was part of the UNLV men's basketball program from 1998-2002, starting as a team manager and eventually becoming a starting guard. He played in 75 career games, started 49 and averaged 3.4 points and 1.8 assists per game. Booker's best season was his last as he started all 32 games in 2001-02 and averaged 4.9 ppg and 2.3 spg.

"With the attitude and work ethic Vince showed when he played here, he should do very well in this position," Spoonhour said. "This is a position that will give Vince a chance to become acquainted to all parts of a Division I basketball program and hopefully will be a great beginning for his coaching career. As a player for us, he was one of the most hardworking and dependable players that we had and he has a good understanding of the way we want to do things."

Since graduating from UNLV in 2002 with a degree in education, he has worked at the North Las Vegas Boys and Girls Club in youth development as a teen director.

"I want to thank Coach Spoonhour for this opportunity," Booker said. "I had a great experience at UNLV as a player and am looking forward to continuing that experience as part of the staff."