Men's Basketball
Justin Hawkins
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- justin.hawkinsyoung@unlv.edu
Justin Hawkins enters his second season as an assistant coach for the UNLV men's basketball program in 2026-27 after returning to his alma mater in April 2025.
In his first season on the Runnin' Rebels' coaching staff, Hawkins helped guide UNLV to an 18-17 overall record, an 11-9 mark in Mountain West play and a berth in the 2026 National Invitation Tournament, where the team advanced to the second round.
Working alongside head coach Josh Pastner, Hawkins helped a roster featuring 13 newcomers overcome significant injuries and record four Quad 1 victories. UNLV earned notable road wins at Memphis, Stanford, Utah State, Boise State and UC Irvine, while completing regular-season sweeps of four Mountain West opponents, including Utah State and Boise State.
The Runnin' Rebels also emerged as one of the Mountain West's top offensive teams, averaging nearly 79 points per game and leading the conference in 3-point field-goal percentage during league play at 39.0%. UNLV also led the Mountain West in blocked shots and saw several players earn individual conference recognition, including Mountain West Newcomer of the Year and First-Team All-Mountain West selection Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn and Mountain West All-Defensive Team honoree Tyrin Jones.
Prior to returning to UNLV, Hawkins spent three seasons on the coaching staff at in-state rival UNR, where he also served as director of player development.
Before his time in Reno, Hawkins spent six seasons at Pacific, serving as director of basketball operations for two seasons after spending the previous four as the Tigers' video specialist.
A former standout student-athlete for the Runnin' Rebels, Hawkins played at UNLV from 2009-13, serving as team captain for two seasons and helping the program reach the NCAA Tournament in each of his four years. His return to Las Vegas brings valuable experience as both a former player and collegiate coach, along with a firsthand understanding of the program's tradition and expectations.
Following his collegiate playing career, Hawkins began his coaching career at Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada, where he served as an assistant varsity coach and freshman head coach.
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In his first season on the Runnin' Rebels' coaching staff, Hawkins helped guide UNLV to an 18-17 overall record, an 11-9 mark in Mountain West play and a berth in the 2026 National Invitation Tournament, where the team advanced to the second round.
Working alongside head coach Josh Pastner, Hawkins helped a roster featuring 13 newcomers overcome significant injuries and record four Quad 1 victories. UNLV earned notable road wins at Memphis, Stanford, Utah State, Boise State and UC Irvine, while completing regular-season sweeps of four Mountain West opponents, including Utah State and Boise State.
The Runnin' Rebels also emerged as one of the Mountain West's top offensive teams, averaging nearly 79 points per game and leading the conference in 3-point field-goal percentage during league play at 39.0%. UNLV also led the Mountain West in blocked shots and saw several players earn individual conference recognition, including Mountain West Newcomer of the Year and First-Team All-Mountain West selection Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn and Mountain West All-Defensive Team honoree Tyrin Jones.
Prior to returning to UNLV, Hawkins spent three seasons on the coaching staff at in-state rival UNR, where he also served as director of player development.
Before his time in Reno, Hawkins spent six seasons at Pacific, serving as director of basketball operations for two seasons after spending the previous four as the Tigers' video specialist.
A former standout student-athlete for the Runnin' Rebels, Hawkins played at UNLV from 2009-13, serving as team captain for two seasons and helping the program reach the NCAA Tournament in each of his four years. His return to Las Vegas brings valuable experience as both a former player and collegiate coach, along with a firsthand understanding of the program's tradition and expectations.
Following his collegiate playing career, Hawkins began his coaching career at Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada, where he served as an assistant varsity coach and freshman head coach.
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Tuesday, October 20
Tuesday, October 20
Thursday, October 01
Friday, September 25
