April 22, 2016
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LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - The Board of Regents on Friday voted in favor of a five-year contract proposed by UNLV President Len Jessup and Athletics Director Tina Kunzer-Murphy in a move that officially made Marvin Menzies the 13th full-time head coach in the history of Runnin' Rebel Basketball.
Menzies later met the media among an overflowing room of well-wishers at the program's Mendenhall Center on campus.
"Marvin knows firsthand the tradition and profile of UNLV basketball," said Jessup. "He is highly regarded as a coach and leader, and we are confident that he will be a great ambassador for the Runnin' Rebels in competition and the community." Menzies, 54, returns to Las Vegas after nine years as the head coach at New Mexico State. Under his direction the Aggies appeared in the postseason each of the last five seasons and six of the last seven years.
"I know that for Marvin and his family, the opportunity to return to Las Vegas and become head coach of the Runnin' Rebels is a dream come true," said Kunzer-Murphy. "He wants this job, he wants to build Runnin' Rebel Basketball back into a regional and national power, and we are so very fortunate to have him here."
Menzies led NMSU to its fifth straight 20-win season in 2015-16, and seventh in eight years, as it was 23-11 overall and 13-1 in conference play. The Aggies have won 35 straight home conference games, which is the second-longest such streak in the nation.
Last season, NMSU won its second straight outright regular-season Western Athletic Conference Championship, which led to a berth in the NIT. From 2012-15, Menzies led his team to four straight WAC Tournament titles and NCAA Tournament berths. His team also won the conference tournament crown and appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 2010. Menzies also led the Aggies to the outright regular-season conference title in 2014-15 and a co-championship in 2008.
The 2015 WAC Coach of the Year, Menzies owns a career record of 198-111 (.641) over nine seasons as a Division I head coach and he has gone 103-37 (.736) in conference play. He coached a pair of AP All-Americans at New Mexico State, two WAC Players of the Year, two WAC Freshmen of the Year, 20 players selected to the all-conference team, five to the all-newcomer team and seven to the all-defensive team.
With a reputation as one of the nation's best recruiters, he was hired to lead the program in Las Cruces in 2007 after spending two seasons (2005-07) as an assistant coach under Rick Pitino at Louisville. Prior to joining the Cardinals' staff, Menzies spent one year (2004-05) at UNLV under Lon Kruger.
Before his time at UNLV, Menzies was at USC for a season (2003-04) under Henry Bibby, and he spent four years (1999-03) at San Diego State under Steve Fisher.
Menzies began his collegiate career at Santa Monica (Calif.) College as an assistant coach under John McMullen. He spent six seasons as an assistant and associate head coach (1991-94, 1995-96 and 1997-99). He was as the team's head coach for a year (in 1994-95) and guided the Corsairs to a 24-8 record. Menzies led Santa Monica to the Western States Conference title while he earned conference coach of the year honors. Between his time at Santa Monica, he was as an assistant coach at Cal State Sacramento (1996-97) under Don Newman as the program transitioned from Division II to Division I. Beginning his coaching career at his prep alma mater, Hamilton High School in Los Angeles, Calif., Menzies was an assistant coach for eight years. A California native, Menzies was a letterwinner in three sports at Hamilton. Menzies earned a bachelor's degree in economics from UCLA in 1987 and a master's degree in education from Cal State Sacramento in 2003. He and his wife, Tammy, have a daughter, Andreanna, and a son, Andre.
"I wasn't the first choice, but I can guarantee you I was the coach that wanted this job the most," said Menzies." I also know that if you gave me a choice of any university in the United States to coach, my first choice would have been UNLV and I can say that with credibility because I already had a stint during my coaching career here. I'm excited to be here and I want to thank God for this opportunity. It's going to be an amazing journey as we get this thing rolling. Go Rebels!"
