Harvey Hyde
Encyclopedia
Harvey Hyde is a sports journalist and former American football
head coach
, most notably of the UNLV Rebels football
team.
Hyde started his college head coaching career at Pasadena City College
.
The Rebels had unprecedented success in the 1984 season
; with
star quarterback
Randall Cunningham
, UNLV went 11-2, won their conference title and defeated Toledo
in the California Bowl
. It was UNLV's only 11-win season. Hyde was at one point a candidate for the vacant head coaching position at Arizona State
.
However, it was later discovered the Rebels had used ineligible players, and the Big West Conference
had the Rebels forfeit all the wins from the 1984 season, though the wins were not stricken from NCAA and UNLV records. Although none of the ineligible players were used in the bowl game
, the California Bowl was among the games forfeited. The issue erupted at the same time the university president, Robert Maxson
, was in the middle of an hostile relationship with the school's famous head basketball coach, Jerry Tarkanian
, over similar off-the-court issues with players. The athletic director at the time, Brad Rothermel, noted in later years that Maxson wanted to fire Hyde because of the coach's friendship with Jerry Tarkanian's brother, Myron, stating "When President Maxson discovered (that friendship), he did what he could to level the legs of the football program. We didn't recover from that." During the 1985 season
, one of Hyde's players was Marion "Suge" Knight
. Among his coaching staff was future Fresno State head coach Pat Hill
.
Things became more difficult for the embattled coach, as nine of his players got involved in various scrapes with the law ranging from theft to assault. Finally, on April 23, 1986, Hyde was fired by Maxon with three years left on his $62,500-a-year contract, which the university said it would honor. One of his assistant coaches, Wayne Nunnely
, was named interim head coach through the 1986 season
, before being chosen as his permanent successor. His firing marked a period of decline for the Rebels that lasted for over two decades.
Hyde would coach football one last time in 1990, as George Allen's associate head coach, recruiting coordinator and running backs coach at Long Beach State
. During that year, Hyde recruited future NFL star Terrell Davis
. Their tenure would only last one season as Allen died just after the end of the regular season, in part due to weak health after his players drenched him with ice water to celebrate a season-ending victory over UNLV. In interviewing to be the permanent head coach of Long Beach State, a program which was under financial duress, Hyde offered radical ideas of having the team play only road games, recruit only junior college
players and use only one set of uniforms; he was not selected and the program only lasted one more season before finally shutting down.
After football, Hyde went on to do sports radio for KSHP-AM 1400 in Las Vegas, and working as part of the USC football pregame show for ESPN Radio
710 in Los Angeles
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
, most notably of the UNLV Rebels football
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...
team.
Hyde started his college head coaching career at Pasadena City College
Pasadena City College
Pasadena City College is a community college in Pasadena, California, USA, located on Colorado Boulevard. PCC is the third largest community college campus in the United States. PCC was founded in 1924 as Pasadena Junior College. In 1954, Pasadena Junior College merged with another junior...
.
The Rebels had unprecedented success in the 1984 season
1984 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1984 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with Brigham Young University winning their first national championship by beating an unranked Michigan team in the Holiday Bowl...
; with
star quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Randall Cunningham
Randall Cunningham
Randall W. Cunningham is a former American football quarterback.After playing college football at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, he was selected in the second round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, with whom he remained through the 1995 season...
, UNLV went 11-2, won their conference title and defeated Toledo
Toledo Rockets
The Toledo Rockets are the athletic teams that represent the University of Toledo. The Rockets are a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision team in the National Collegiate Athletic Association and play in the Mid-American Conference . The school's colors are midnight blue and gold.Toledo's...
in the California Bowl
California Bowl
The California Bowl was a post-season college football bowl game played annually at Bulldog Stadium in Fresno, California, from 1981 to 1991. The games matched the championship teams from the Big West Conference with teams from the Mid-American Conference...
. It was UNLV's only 11-win season. Hyde was at one point a candidate for the vacant head coaching position at Arizona State
Arizona State Sun Devils football
The Arizona State Sun Devils' football program represents Arizona State University in college football, and competes in NCAA Division I FBS as a member of the Pacific-12 Conference....
.
However, it was later discovered the Rebels had used ineligible players, and the Big West Conference
Big West Conference
The Big West Conference is an NCAA-affiliated Division I mid-major college athletic conference. When the conference began in 1969, its name was the Pacific Coast Athletic Association . After nineteen years, in 1988, its name was changed to the Big West Conference. The conference stopped...
had the Rebels forfeit all the wins from the 1984 season, though the wins were not stricken from NCAA and UNLV records. Although none of the ineligible players were used in the bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
, the California Bowl was among the games forfeited. The issue erupted at the same time the university president, Robert Maxson
Robert Maxson
Robert C. Maxson is a former president of Sierra Nevada College in Incline Village, Nevada.He was president of University of Nevada, Las Vegas from 1984 to 1994 and president of California State University, Long Beach from June 1994 until January 2006. He was succeeded there by F...
, was in the middle of an hostile relationship with the school's famous head basketball coach, Jerry Tarkanian
Jerry Tarkanian
Jerry Tarkanian , also known as "Tark the Shark", is a retired college basketball coach known as one of the winningest coaches in college basketball history...
, over similar off-the-court issues with players. The athletic director at the time, Brad Rothermel, noted in later years that Maxson wanted to fire Hyde because of the coach's friendship with Jerry Tarkanian's brother, Myron, stating "When President Maxson discovered (that friendship), he did what he could to level the legs of the football program. We didn't recover from that." During the 1985 season
1985 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1985 NCAA Division I-A football season saw the Oklahoma Sooners, led by head coach Barry Switzer, win the national championship.Oklahoma finished the season 11-1, with their only loss to Miami at home, in a game future NFL star Troy Aikman was lost for the season...
, one of Hyde's players was Marion "Suge" Knight
Suge Knight
Marion "Suge" Knight, Jr. is the founder and CEO of Black Kapital Records and co-founder and former CEO of Death Row Records. Death Row Records rose to dominate the rap charts after Dr. Dre's breakthrough album The Chronic in 1992. After several years of chart successes for artists including...
. Among his coaching staff was future Fresno State head coach Pat Hill
Pat Hill
Pat Hill is a college football coach. He is currently the head coach at Fresno State.-Early positions:Pat Hill attended Rim of the World High School in Lake Arrowhead, California, graduating in 1970...
.
Things became more difficult for the embattled coach, as nine of his players got involved in various scrapes with the law ranging from theft to assault. Finally, on April 23, 1986, Hyde was fired by Maxon with three years left on his $62,500-a-year contract, which the university said it would honor. One of his assistant coaches, Wayne Nunnely
Wayne Nunnely
Wayne Nunnely is an American football defensive line coach for the National Football League's Denver Broncos...
, was named interim head coach through the 1986 season
1986 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with Penn State winning the national championship. Coached by Joe Paterno, they defeated Miami 14–10 in the Fiesta Bowl. This Fiesta Bowl was the first in the game's history to decide the national championship, launching it into the top tier of...
, before being chosen as his permanent successor. His firing marked a period of decline for the Rebels that lasted for over two decades.
Hyde would coach football one last time in 1990, as George Allen's associate head coach, recruiting coordinator and running backs coach at Long Beach State
California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Long Beach is the second largest campus of the California State University system and the third largest university in the state of California by enrollment...
. During that year, Hyde recruited future NFL star Terrell Davis
Terrell Davis
Terrell Lamar Davis is a former American football running back who played for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League from 1995 to 2001. Davis was drafted by the Broncos in the sixth round of the 1995 NFL Draft. Davis is the Denver Broncos all-time leading rusher, with 7,607 rushing...
. Their tenure would only last one season as Allen died just after the end of the regular season, in part due to weak health after his players drenched him with ice water to celebrate a season-ending victory over UNLV. In interviewing to be the permanent head coach of Long Beach State, a program which was under financial duress, Hyde offered radical ideas of having the team play only road games, recruit only junior college
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
players and use only one set of uniforms; he was not selected and the program only lasted one more season before finally shutting down.
After football, Hyde went on to do sports radio for KSHP-AM 1400 in Las Vegas, and working as part of the USC football pregame show for ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio is an American sports radio network. It was launched on January 1, 1992 under the original banner of "SportsRadio ESPN." ESPN Radio is located at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut...
710 in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.