Scott Garson - Men's Basketball
Scott Garson
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach
- Email:
- scott.garson@unlv.edu
Scott Garson enters his second season as associate head coach of UNLV men’s basketball in 2026–27 after joining the Runnin’ Rebels in April 2025. His collegiate coaching resume spans 28 seasons, including five as head coach at the College of Idaho and assistant coaching stops at Santa Clara, UCLA, Utah and Pepperdine. Across his career, he has been part of 27 winning seasons, 20 postseason berths, 10 conference championships, three NCAA Division I Final Fours and one national championship game appearance. As an assistant coach, he has helped teams reach 10 NCAA Division I Tournaments and win seven conference championships.
A two-time conference Coach of the Year and recipient of the 2015 Red Auerbach National Coach of the Year Award, Garson owns a 129–42 head coaching record. Known for talent evaluation and player development, he has coached and/or recruited 23 NBA players, including All-Stars Jalen Williams, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, Jrue Holiday, Norman Powell and Zach LaVine. He has worked alongside Rick Majerus, Ben Howland, Herb Sendek and Lorenzo Romar.
UNLV
In Garson’s first season with the Runnin' Rebels, UNLV finished 18-17 overall and 11-9 in Mountain West play, reached the second round of the 2026 NIT and earned four Quad 1 victories. With just one returning player, the staff assembled 13 newcomers and navigated significant injuries. The Runnin’ Rebels swept Utah State, Boise State, San Jose State and Air Force; the Utah State sweep was their first since 2013-14 and the Boise State sweep their first since 2019. Key wins included road victories over Memphis and Stanford, a 23-point comeback in an overtime victory at Boise State, an overtime win over rival UNR and a 92–65 home victory against Utah State. UNLV went 3–0 in overtime and won at UC Irvine in the NIT opening round before falling to Tulsa. It was the program’s 12th NIT appearance and second in three seasons.
UNLV averaged nearly 79 points per game, its highest mark since 2017-18, and led the Mountain West in three-point shooting during conference play (39.0%) - its first conference-leading mark since 1994–95 - as well as blocked shots (nearly five per game). Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn earned Mountain West Newcomer of the Year and first-team all-conference honors, led league play in scoring (23.6 points per game) and scored 42 points against UNR. Howie Fleming Jr. became the first Runnin' Rebel with two triple-doubles in one season, while Tyrin Jones earned Mountain West All-Defensive Team and honorable mention all-conference honors and led league play in blocks and field-goal percentage.
Previous Coaching Experience
Santa Clara (2018–25) —  Working with Herb Sendek, Garson helped to rebuild and revitalize the Broncos program. During his tenure, Santa Clara earned an overall record of 133–84, including seven consecutive winning seasons (tied for the second-longest streak in school history), three postseason appearances and two NBA Draft lottery picks.
College of Idaho (2013–18) — As head coach, Garson went 129–42, winning three Cascade Collegiate Conference regular-season titles and three tournament titles. His teams made four NAIA national tournaments, reaching the 2015 quarterfinals and 2018 semifinals (Final Four). Named conference Coach of the Year in 2014 and 2018, he became the school’s first coach since the 1950s to win back-to-back league crowns and received the 2015 Red Auerbach National Coach of the Year Award. His 2014–15 team finished 30–6, then the second-most wins in the program’s 105-year history; his 2017–18 team matched the 30-win total at 30–7.
UCLA (2004–13) — On Ben Howland’s staff, Garson helped lead the Bruins to a 222–90 record, Pac-10 championships in 2006, 2007 and 2008, a Pac-12 title in 2013, and conference tournament championships in 2006 and 2008. UCLA made six NCAA Tournaments and three straight Final Fours (2006–08), reaching the 2006 national championship game, and produced 17 NBA Draft picks.
Utah (1999–2004) — Working with Rick Majerus, Garson helped the Utes to a 112–47 record, four Mountain West championships, four NCAA Tournament appearances and three NBA Draft picks.
Pepperdine (1998–99) — On Lorenzo Romar’s staff, Garson helped the Waves to a 19–13 record and a postseason tournament appearance.
Personal
A Southern California native and all-state high school basketball player, Garson played basketball and baseball at Washington University in St. Louis. He graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in law and society and earned a master’s degree in exercise and sport science, with an emphasis in sport psychology, from the University of Utah in 2003. He and his wife, the former Amy Benakote, live in Las Vegas with their son Sidney (9), daughter Maya (7) and dog Hershey.
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A two-time conference Coach of the Year and recipient of the 2015 Red Auerbach National Coach of the Year Award, Garson owns a 129–42 head coaching record. Known for talent evaluation and player development, he has coached and/or recruited 23 NBA players, including All-Stars Jalen Williams, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, Jrue Holiday, Norman Powell and Zach LaVine. He has worked alongside Rick Majerus, Ben Howland, Herb Sendek and Lorenzo Romar.
UNLV
In Garson’s first season with the Runnin' Rebels, UNLV finished 18-17 overall and 11-9 in Mountain West play, reached the second round of the 2026 NIT and earned four Quad 1 victories. With just one returning player, the staff assembled 13 newcomers and navigated significant injuries. The Runnin’ Rebels swept Utah State, Boise State, San Jose State and Air Force; the Utah State sweep was their first since 2013-14 and the Boise State sweep their first since 2019. Key wins included road victories over Memphis and Stanford, a 23-point comeback in an overtime victory at Boise State, an overtime win over rival UNR and a 92–65 home victory against Utah State. UNLV went 3–0 in overtime and won at UC Irvine in the NIT opening round before falling to Tulsa. It was the program’s 12th NIT appearance and second in three seasons.
UNLV averaged nearly 79 points per game, its highest mark since 2017-18, and led the Mountain West in three-point shooting during conference play (39.0%) - its first conference-leading mark since 1994–95 - as well as blocked shots (nearly five per game). Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn earned Mountain West Newcomer of the Year and first-team all-conference honors, led league play in scoring (23.6 points per game) and scored 42 points against UNR. Howie Fleming Jr. became the first Runnin' Rebel with two triple-doubles in one season, while Tyrin Jones earned Mountain West All-Defensive Team and honorable mention all-conference honors and led league play in blocks and field-goal percentage.
Previous Coaching Experience
Santa Clara (2018–25) —  Working with Herb Sendek, Garson helped to rebuild and revitalize the Broncos program. During his tenure, Santa Clara earned an overall record of 133–84, including seven consecutive winning seasons (tied for the second-longest streak in school history), three postseason appearances and two NBA Draft lottery picks.
College of Idaho (2013–18) — As head coach, Garson went 129–42, winning three Cascade Collegiate Conference regular-season titles and three tournament titles. His teams made four NAIA national tournaments, reaching the 2015 quarterfinals and 2018 semifinals (Final Four). Named conference Coach of the Year in 2014 and 2018, he became the school’s first coach since the 1950s to win back-to-back league crowns and received the 2015 Red Auerbach National Coach of the Year Award. His 2014–15 team finished 30–6, then the second-most wins in the program’s 105-year history; his 2017–18 team matched the 30-win total at 30–7.
UCLA (2004–13) — On Ben Howland’s staff, Garson helped lead the Bruins to a 222–90 record, Pac-10 championships in 2006, 2007 and 2008, a Pac-12 title in 2013, and conference tournament championships in 2006 and 2008. UCLA made six NCAA Tournaments and three straight Final Fours (2006–08), reaching the 2006 national championship game, and produced 17 NBA Draft picks.
Utah (1999–2004) — Working with Rick Majerus, Garson helped the Utes to a 112–47 record, four Mountain West championships, four NCAA Tournament appearances and three NBA Draft picks.
Pepperdine (1998–99) — On Lorenzo Romar’s staff, Garson helped the Waves to a 19–13 record and a postseason tournament appearance.
Personal
A Southern California native and all-state high school basketball player, Garson played basketball and baseball at Washington University in St. Louis. He graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in law and society and earned a master’s degree in exercise and sport science, with an emphasis in sport psychology, from the University of Utah in 2003. He and his wife, the former Amy Benakote, live in Las Vegas with their son Sidney (9), daughter Maya (7) and dog Hershey.
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