Ex-UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian dies at age 84
Former UNLV head basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian has died at the age of 84, his son tweeted on Wednesday.
Tarkanian was taken by ambulance on Monday to Valley Hospital Medical Center after being unresponsive when doctors attempted to get his blood pressure elevated. On Tuesday, it was reported that Tarkanian was in critical condition and had breathing trouble as well as an undisclosed type of infection.
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Tarkanian was hospitalized in November while being treated for pneumonia and spent more than a week in the hospital in April 2014 after having a second heart attack.
Tarkanian coached 31 seasons with Long Beach State, UNLV and Fresno State before retiring in 2002. He coached his teams to 18 NCAA tournament appearances and four Final Fours. He also coached the San Antonio Spurs for 20 games in 1992.
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With UNLV, he had a 509-105 record in 19 seasons and led the Rebels to the NCAA championship in 1990. His son, Danny, played three seasons under Tarkanian at UNLV, from 1981 to 1984.
Tarkanian resigned as the Rebels coach in 1992 amid an NCAA investigation. In 1995, he returned to his alma mater, Fresno State, where he coached for seven seasons. He led the Bulldogs to six straight 20-win seasons, including two NCAA tournaments.
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