NCAA News Wire
College basketball notebook: Tarkanian dies at age 84
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
Hall of Fame basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian, who led the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels to a national title, died Wednesday. He was 84.
Tarkanian had been in a Las Vegas hospital since Monday night after experiencing breathing difficulties and an infection. The Naismith Hall of Famer was transported by ambulance to Valley Hospital Medical Center from his home after his blood oxygen levels dropped.
The towel-chewing coach, known as “Tark the Shark,” finished his career with 729 wins across all levels.
Tarkanian guided three schools to the NCAA tournament and posted a 729-201 record in 31 years at the Division I level. His UNLV team won the national championship in 1990 and he compiled a 509-105 record in 19 seasons with the Rebels.
Tarkanian’s death comes after legendary North Carolina coach Dean Smith died Saturday night in Chapel Hill, N.C., at age 83.
“It’s another sad day for those who love college basketball and the people who have contributed so much to our game,” North Carolina coach Roy Williams said in a statement Wednesday. “‘Tark’ was a great coach, better than people gave him credit for, and he loved college basketball.”
—Amid apparent friction between players on the Seton Hall basketball team, sophomore guard Jaren Sina is leaving the program.
The school did not state the reason for his departure in its announcement Wednesday, but tension among teammates is thought to be at the heart of his decision.
Seton Hall (15-9, 5-7 Big East) has lost six of its last eight games.
—In a deal with prosecutors, basketball analyst Greg Anthony agreed to perform community service in exchange for the dismissal of a charge of soliciting a prostitute.
Under terms of the deferred prosecution deal announced Wednesday, Anthony must commit to 32 hours of service and avoid legal trouble for four months.
Anthony, 47, was arrested on the misdemeanor charge at a hotel in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 16. He had responded to an online escort ad placed by authorities, according to court documents.
