September 17, 1998
LAS VEGAS -- Seven individuals and one team are to be inducted into the UNLV Athletic Hall of Fame on Oct. 1, 1998, the school announced.
Basketball forward Armon Gilliam, soccer player Robbie Ryerson, tennis All-American Scott Warner and football star Ickey Woods are the former student-athletes voted in by the hall of fame committee. Former men's basketball leader Jerry Tarkanian is the one coach in this year's class and is joined by administrator Brad Rothermel and distinguished contributor Rex Bell. The 1986-87 men's basketball team rounds out the class.
Under the hall's bylaws, former student-athletes must have completed their eligibility at least 10 years earlier to be selected. Coaches and administrators must have stopped working at the University five years earlier.
"This class is obviously impressive from top to bottom," Hall of Fame Committee Chairman Jerry Koloskie said. "These are some of the people who brought the greatest glories to Rebel athletics. What makes it more special is that I worked with many of these honorees during their time at UNLV."
A sketch on each inductee follows in alphabetical order:
REX BELL -- Distinguished Contributor
A former Clark County District Attorney, Bell has been a supporter of UNLV athletics for almost a quarter-century. The life-long Nevadan was a volunteer coach with the Rebel football team from 1974-81 while at the same time becoming one of the city's most prominent citizens. Off the field, Bell spent countless hours mentoring student-athletes and turned into an unofficial ambassador for UNLV throughout the community. Currently the President of the Las Vegas Chapter of the National Football Foundation, his devotion to Rebel athletics has remained unwavering.
ARMON GILLIAM -- Men's Basketball (1984-87)
Nicknamed "The Hammer," Gilliam is the sixth leading scorer in UNLV history with 1,855 points and fifth career rebounder with 890. He led the Runnin' Rebels to the 1987 Final Four with a 37-2 record after recording one of the top individual seasons in school history as a senior. The 1987 Pacific Coast Athletic Association Player of the Year, Gilliam was named second-team All-American by the Associated Press that same year. He set the school record for single-season points with 903 and field goals made with 359 and averaged 23.2 points per game. The No. 2 overall pick in the NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns, he has played 12 seasons in the NBA and is currently a member of the Milwaukee Bucks.
BRAD ROTHERMEL -- Administrator (1981-90)
Serving as Director of Athletics for 10 years, Rothermel steered UNLV to unprecedented success in the world of college sports. During his tenure, each of the 14 varsity programs reached NCAA post-season play and Rebel teams won 24 conference championships as well as the 1990 men's basketball team's national title. Currently a UNLV Associate Professor of Education Leadership, Rothermel also orchestrated the Runnin' Rebels' move from the Las Vegas Convention Center into the Thomas & Mack Center.
ROBBIE RYERSON -- Men's Soccer (1982-85)
The most prolific scorer in UNLV history, Ryerson is still the Rebels' career leader in goals with 67 and total points with 159. The two-time All-American (1984-85) scored 20 goals in 1984 and 21 in '85. A three-time All-Far West selection (1983-85), he led UNLV to three NCAA tournament appearances and an overall record for 60-13-9, including an 18-2-2 mark in his senior season.
JERRY TARKANIAN -- Men's Basketball Coach (1973-92)
A legendary figure among college basketball coaches, Tarkanian spent 19 seasons leading the UNLV men's basketball program and left as the winningest coach in NCAA Division I history with a percentage of .829 (509-105). Still the only Rebel coach to earn a team national championship, his Runnin' Rebels took the 1990 NCAA title by the most lopsided margin in tournament history. His 14 NCAA tournament appearances, including nine consecutive in 1983-91, yielded four Final Four berths. Tarkanian-led teams, which had home-court winning streaks of 72, 59 and 36, posted an amazing 32-game road winning streak in 1990-91.
SCOTT WARNER -- Men's Tennis (1984-87)
The first tennis player to enter the UNLV Athletic Hall of Fame, Warner still leads the school with 112 career singles victories. The two-time PCAA Player of the Year (1986-87), Warner was the program's first All-American after reaching the quarterfinals of the 1987 NCAA singles championships. The three-time all-conference honoree also continues to hold the record for most wins in a season with 35 in 1986.
ELBERT "ICKEY" WOODS -- Football (1984-87)
Perhaps best known nationally for his famous dance the Ickey Shuffle developed while playing professional football, Woods produced an incredible senior season at UNLV. The 1987 PCAA Offensive Player of the Year became the first back in league and school history to lead the nation in rushing with 1,658 yards. Still holding numerous offensive records for the Rebels including most carries in one game with 37, Woods had nine 100-yard rushing games overall, seven consecutive century-mark games and an amazing three consecutive 200-yard efforts. Still the school's highest-ever NFL draft pick at No. 31 overall in 1988, he went on to earn all-rookie honors with Cincinnati after leading the Bengals to Super Bowl XXIII with 1,066 yards.
1986-87 MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM
UNLV's second-ever NCAA Final Four entry, the 1986-87 Runnin' Rebels set a school record for single-season wins with 37 to go with just two defeats. Their winning percentage of .949 also was a UNLV record. Led by Freddie Banks, Jarvis Basnight, Armon Gilliam, Gerald Paddio and Mark Wade, the preseason NIT champion-Runnin' Rebels went on to record a perfect 18-0 conference record. The first UNLV team to be ranked No. 1 in the nation at the end of the regular season, the squad's popularity led to 10 Thomas & Mack sell-outs en route to averaging 18,251 fans per game. The team won the NCAA West Regional Championship before losing to eventual national champion Indiana in the semifinals 97-93.
