2010 UNLV Rebels football team
Encyclopedia
The 2010 UNLV Rebels football team was the 43rd varsity football team
to represent the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
. The Rebels played in the Mountain West Conference
, and compete each season against the remaining eight members of the conference and one permanent interstate rival: UNR. The Rebels played a 13-game schedule due to their non-conference road game at Hawaii
. The Rebels also had non-conference games against Wisconsin
and at Idaho
and West Virginia
. Bobby Hauck
was in first season as the head coach of the Rebels football program, having previously coached at the University of Montana
. The Rebels played their home games at Sam Boyd Stadium
in East Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Rebels finished the season 2–11 (2–6 MWC).
, at West Virginia
, at Idaho
, at Hawai'i
and Nevada-Reno
. Also at the Media Day, junior wide receiver Phillip Payne was voted to the preseason All-Mountain West Conference team, marking the fourth consecutive season that a UNLV wide receiver had been selected to the preseason All-MWC team.
At the end of August 2010, linebacker Ronnie Paulo, safety Alex De Giacomo, offensive tackle Matt Murphy and center John Gianninoto were named as team captains for the 2010 season. Less than a week before the start of the season, first-year head coach Bobby Hauck announced that junior Mike Clausen had beat out senior incumbent Omar Clayton
for the starting quarterback position and would start in the season opener against Wisconsin
.
announced that Mike Sanford
would be let go as head coach following the completion of the season on November 28, 2009. In five years as UNLV's head coach, Sanford posted a 16-43 overall record, a 7-32 record in the Mountain West and a 0-5 record against UNLV's arch rival, Nevada-Reno
. Sanford's overall winning percentage of .271 was the second worst in the program's history, only Jeff Horton
's .228 (13-44 in five years) was worse. Jerry Koloskie, at the time UNLV's interim athletic director, stated that Sanford's dismissal was a "performance-based issue" In Sanford's five seasons as head coach at UNLV, the team didn't have a single winning season, with their best records under Sanford's tenure being back-to-back 5-7 records in 2008
and 2009
. On December 22, 2009, Sanford was hired by new Louisville
head coach, Charlie Strong
, to be Louisville's offensive coordinator.
On December 22, 2009, newly hired athletic director, Jim Livengood, hired Montana
head coach to become the tenth head coach in the program's history. Hauck and former head coach Dennis Franchione
were interviewed for the vacant position, Hauck on December 20, 2009 and Franchione on December 21, 2009. Hauck would receive a second interview on December 22, 2009 to iron out contract negotiations. Hauck's contract was for three years which would be a three year contract with a $350,000 annual salary and $150,000 in completion bonuses. Other coaches other than Hauck and Franchione that were rumored as candidates for the head coaching position were Jacksonville Jaguars
defensive coordinator Dirk Koetter
, Idaho
's head coach Robb Akey
and former Washington
head coach Tyrone Willingham
.
On January 4, 2009, it was reported that six of Hauck's assistants from Montana would join his staff at UNLV, including former offensive coordinator Rob Phenicie and defensive coordinator Kraig Paulson who took the same positions with UNLV. Ty Gregorak was named recruiting coordinator and linebackers coach, Chad Germer (Offensive line), Dominic Daste (Tight Ends) and Cedric Cormier (Wide Receivers) were hired by Hauck as well. Utah defensive backs coach J.D. Williams was hired by Hauck to be his assistant head coach, pass defense coordinator and defensive backs coach. Currently, Hauck still has two vacant positions, but Hauck stated that filling those voids would not be an immediate priority.
UNLV Rebels football
The UNLV Rebels football program is a college football team that represents the University of Nevada, Las Vegas . The team is currently a member of the Mountain West Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association...
to represent the University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Nevada-Las Vegas is a public, coeducational university located in the Las Vegas suburb of Paradise, Nevada, USA. The campus is located approximately east of the Las Vegas Strip. The institution includes a Shadow Lane Campus, located just east of the University Medical Center of...
. The Rebels played in the Mountain West Conference
Mountain West Conference
The Mountain West Conference , popularly known as the Mountain West, is the youngest of the college athletic conferences affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I FBS . The MWC officially began operations in July 1999...
, and compete each season against the remaining eight members of the conference and one permanent interstate rival: UNR. The Rebels played a 13-game schedule due to their non-conference road game at Hawaii
2010 Hawaii Warriors football team
The 2010 Hawaii Warriors football team represented the University of Hawaii at Mānoa in the 2010 college football season. The Warriors, led by third-year head coach Greg McMackin, were members of the Western Athletic Conference and played their home games at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, HI...
. The Rebels also had non-conference games against Wisconsin
2010 Wisconsin Badgers football team
The 2010 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Badgers, led by fifth-year head coach Bret Bielema, were members of the Big Ten Conference and played their home games at Camp Randall Stadium...
and at Idaho
2010 Idaho Vandals football team
The 2010 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Vandals, led by fourth-year head coach Robb Akey, were members of the Western Athletic Conference and played their home games at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on...
and West Virginia
2010 West Virginia Mountaineers football team
The 2010 West Virginia Mountaineer football team represented West Virginia University in the college football season of 2010. The Mountaineers were led by head coach Bill Stewart and played their home games at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia. They were members of the Big East...
. Bobby Hauck
Bobby Hauck
Bobby Hauck is a college football coach, currently the head coach of the UNLV Rebels. Hauck was previously the head coach at Montana, where he led the Grizzlies to seven conference titles and postseason berths in as many seasons, including three national championship game appearances.-Early...
was in first season as the head coach of the Rebels football program, having previously coached at the University of Montana
Montana Grizzlies football
The Montana Grizzlies football program represents the University of Montana in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision of college football. The Grizzlies have competed in the Big Sky Conference, where it is a founding member, since 1963...
. The Rebels played their home games at Sam Boyd Stadium
Sam Boyd Stadium
Sam Boyd Stadium is a football stadium located in Whitney, Nevada, an unincorporated community in the Las Vegas metropolitan area; the mailing address of the stadium is "Las Vegas". The stadium is named after Sam Boyd, a major figure in the hotel/casino industry in Las Vegas. The stadium consists...
in East Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Rebels finished the season 2–11 (2–6 MWC).
Pre-season
At the 2010 Mountain West Conference Media Day, UNLV was picked to finish eighth in the conference, due to their tough schedule which consisted of nine teams that went to bowl games in the previous season and included tough games with Wisconsin2010 Wisconsin Badgers football team
The 2010 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Badgers, led by fifth-year head coach Bret Bielema, were members of the Big Ten Conference and played their home games at Camp Randall Stadium...
, at West Virginia
2010 West Virginia Mountaineers football team
The 2010 West Virginia Mountaineer football team represented West Virginia University in the college football season of 2010. The Mountaineers were led by head coach Bill Stewart and played their home games at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia. They were members of the Big East...
, at Idaho
2010 Idaho Vandals football team
The 2010 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Vandals, led by fourth-year head coach Robb Akey, were members of the Western Athletic Conference and played their home games at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on...
, at Hawai'i
2010 Hawaii Warriors football team
The 2010 Hawaii Warriors football team represented the University of Hawaii at Mānoa in the 2010 college football season. The Warriors, led by third-year head coach Greg McMackin, were members of the Western Athletic Conference and played their home games at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, HI...
and Nevada-Reno
2010 Nevada Wolf Pack football team
The 2010 Nevada Wolf Pack football team represented the University of Nevada, Reno in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Wolf Pack were led by head coach Chris Ault in his 26th season overall and 7th since taking over the head coaching job for the third time in 2004. They played...
. Also at the Media Day, junior wide receiver Phillip Payne was voted to the preseason All-Mountain West Conference team, marking the fourth consecutive season that a UNLV wide receiver had been selected to the preseason All-MWC team.
At the end of August 2010, linebacker Ronnie Paulo, safety Alex De Giacomo, offensive tackle Matt Murphy and center John Gianninoto were named as team captains for the 2010 season. Less than a week before the start of the season, first-year head coach Bobby Hauck announced that junior Mike Clausen had beat out senior incumbent Omar Clayton
Omar Clayton
Omar A. Clayton is an American football quarterback. He currently plays college football for the UNLV Rebels at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.-Early life:...
for the starting quarterback position and would start in the season opener against Wisconsin
2010 Wisconsin Badgers football team
The 2010 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Badgers, led by fifth-year head coach Bret Bielema, were members of the Big Ten Conference and played their home games at Camp Randall Stadium...
.
Coaching changes
On November 15, 2009, the Las Vegas SunLas Vegas Sun
The Las Vegas Sun is a Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper. It is one of Las Vegas, Nevada's two daily newspapers. It is owned by the Greenspun family and is affiliated with Greenspun Media Group....
announced that Mike Sanford
Mike Sanford
Mike Sanford is a college football coach, formerly the head coach at at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He was recently released from his job as offensive assistant at the University of Louisville...
would be let go as head coach following the completion of the season on November 28, 2009. In five years as UNLV's head coach, Sanford posted a 16-43 overall record, a 7-32 record in the Mountain West and a 0-5 record against UNLV's arch rival, Nevada-Reno
Nevada Wolf Pack football
The Nevada Wolf Pack Football program represents the University of Nevada, Reno in college football. The Wolf Pack competes in the Western Athletic Conference at the Football Bowl Subdivision level of the NCAA...
. Sanford's overall winning percentage of .271 was the second worst in the program's history, only Jeff Horton
Jeff Horton
-External links:*...
's .228 (13-44 in five years) was worse. Jerry Koloskie, at the time UNLV's interim athletic director, stated that Sanford's dismissal was a "performance-based issue" In Sanford's five seasons as head coach at UNLV, the team didn't have a single winning season, with their best records under Sanford's tenure being back-to-back 5-7 records in 2008
2008 UNLV Rebels football team
The 2008 UNLV Rebels football team represented the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football during the 2008 season. UNLV competed as a member of the Mountain West Conference and played their home games at...
and 2009
2009 UNLV Rebels football team
The 2009 UNLV Rebels football team was the 42nd varsity football team to represent the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The Rebels play in the Mountain West Conference, and compete each season against the remaining eight members of the conference and one permanent interstate rival: UNR...
. On December 22, 2009, Sanford was hired by new Louisville
Louisville Cardinals football
The Louisville Cardinals football team represents the University of Louisville in college football as a member of the Big East Conference. Howard Schnellenberger started the program's rise to relevancy after winning the Miami Hurricanes' first national championship...
head coach, Charlie Strong
Charlie Strong
Charlie R. Strong is an American college football coach and former player. Strong is a native of Arkansas and graduated from the University of Central Arkansas, where he played college football...
, to be Louisville's offensive coordinator.
On December 22, 2009, newly hired athletic director, Jim Livengood, hired Montana
Montana Grizzlies football
The Montana Grizzlies football program represents the University of Montana in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision of college football. The Grizzlies have competed in the Big Sky Conference, where it is a founding member, since 1963...
head coach to become the tenth head coach in the program's history. Hauck and former head coach Dennis Franchione
Dennis Franchione
Dennis Wayne Franchione , also known as Coach Fran, is an American football coach. He is currently the head football coach at Texas State University, a position he held from 1990 to 1991, when the school was known as Southwest Texas State University, and resumed in 2011...
were interviewed for the vacant position, Hauck on December 20, 2009 and Franchione on December 21, 2009. Hauck would receive a second interview on December 22, 2009 to iron out contract negotiations. Hauck's contract was for three years which would be a three year contract with a $350,000 annual salary and $150,000 in completion bonuses. Other coaches other than Hauck and Franchione that were rumored as candidates for the head coaching position were Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
defensive coordinator Dirk Koetter
Dirk Koetter
-NFL drafted players under Koetter:-External links:* *...
, Idaho
Idaho Vandals football
The Idaho Vandals are a college football team that represents the University of Idaho. The Vandals currently compete in the Western Athletic Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I...
's head coach Robb Akey
Robb Akey
-External links:...
and former Washington
Washington Huskies football
College football has a long history at the University of Washington. The Washington Huskies have won 15 Pacific-10 Conference championships, seven Rose Bowl titles, and three national championships. Washington's all-time record of 653-398-50 ranks 20th by all-time winning percentage and 21st by...
head coach Tyrone Willingham
Tyrone Willingham
Lionel Tyrone "Ty" Willingham is a former American football player and coach. He was the head coach at Stanford University , the University of Notre Dame , and the University of Washington , compiling a career college football record of 76–88–1.-Early career:Willingham attended...
.
On January 4, 2009, it was reported that six of Hauck's assistants from Montana would join his staff at UNLV, including former offensive coordinator Rob Phenicie and defensive coordinator Kraig Paulson who took the same positions with UNLV. Ty Gregorak was named recruiting coordinator and linebackers coach, Chad Germer (Offensive line), Dominic Daste (Tight Ends) and Cedric Cormier (Wide Receivers) were hired by Hauck as well. Utah defensive backs coach J.D. Williams was hired by Hauck to be his assistant head coach, pass defense coordinator and defensive backs coach. Currently, Hauck still has two vacant positions, but Hauck stated that filling those voids would not be an immediate priority.