Ex-UNLV, Gorman coach Tony Sanchez returns to his roots

With an all-time winning percent of .390, UNLV ranks 123rd among the NCAA’s 131 top-level shot programs — conscionable 8 spots up of No. 131, New Mexico State, the caboose astatine .328.

So if 1 were to determination connected from coaching shot astatine UNLV to doing it astatine New Mexico State, it would beryllium similar going from the outhouse to … well, different outhouse, lone farther into the woods.

Tony Sanchez doesn’t look astatine it that way. He looks astatine it arsenic going home.

The erstwhile Bishop Gorman and UNLV manager spent this play arsenic an adjunct astatine Texas Christian, which erstwhile was adjacent to being a penthouse programme nether Gary Patterson. But erstwhile Patterson resigned successful October, Sanchez followed Jerry Kill to New Mexico State, wherever Sanchez was a wide receiver.

Kill, Patterson’s “special assistant” astatine TCU, is renowned for turning astir moribund programs specified arsenic Northern Illinois and Minnesota. Sanchez believes Kill besides is the close feline for the hard occupation successful Las Cruces.

“TCU was specified a large experience. Coach Kill benignant of ran the offense, and I spent the full twelvemonth moving with him,” Sanchez said astir spending portion of his holidays trekking to the Mesilla Valley successful confederate New Mexico, wherever helium volition manager wide receivers. “He conscionable truthful happened to get the occupation astatine the schoolhouse wherever I played.”

New Mexico State’s abject futility notwithstanding, the Aggies are lone 4 years removed from a 26-20 triumph implicit Utah State of the Mountain West successful the Arizona Bowl. It was their archetypal vessel crippled quality successful 57 seasons.

“The hardest happening is they’ve been an independent,” said Sanchez, who compiled a 20-40 grounds astatine UNLV aft leaving the juggernaut helium built astatine Gorman and coming person than astir to making the Rebels competitory connected and disconnected the tract with additions specified arsenic a football grooming complex.

“They went to the vessel crippled and each of that, but however you past arsenic an independent, I person nary idea.”

New Mexico State volition endure 1 much play arsenic an autarkic earlier joining evolving Conference USA successful 2023. That volition marque scheduling easier and supply caller gross streams for things specified arsenic decent wages for assistants, Sanchez said.

“We’ve got a fistful of (coaches) who person a assortment of experience, and each of america volition locomotion successful having had immoderate occurrence and having gotten knocked connected our (rear) and gotten backmost up,” helium said astir having to ascent different mountain. “We wholly get the concern we’re successful and are excited astir the challenge.”

Fired up to get rolling! @NMSU_Football #AggieUp pic.twitter.com/FHZMj1kPga

— Coach Tony Sanchez (@Coach_TSanchez) December 11, 2021

Around the horn

— Patrick Harden, a erstwhile UNLV standout violative lineman whose blocking helped Ickey Woods gain an NCAA rushing title, has died successful California. His beingness volition beryllium celebrated astatine 11 a.m. Jan. 22 astatine the Love and Unity Christian Fellowship successful Compton, California.

“He was a large teammate, person and household antheral who became a minister,” said South Point Arena manager and erstwhile Rebels teammate Steve Stallworth. “The Big Man upstairs conscionable got a large near tackle for his imagination team.”

— Kelze Howard, a antiaircraft lineman astatine Spring Valley High, is this week’s recipient of the NFL’s Way to Play precocious schoolhouse award.

Howard was feted for utilizing his hands to shed blockers and displaying due tacking method (i.e., not utilizing his helmet) successful making a backmost sack. Spring Valley volition person a $1,500 instrumentality assistance successful Howard’s name.

Heading to Vegas to manus retired the adjacent #NFLWayToPlay High School Award…congrats to Week 16 victor Kelze Howard (@HowardKelze) for his textbook deed connected the QB – earning Spring Valley HS, NV a $1,500 instrumentality grant! @SVHSGrizzFB 🔨 pic.twitter.com/Rv7Vof5pLu

— NFL Play Football (@nflplayfootball) January 6, 2022

— Despite being hindered by COVID restrictions, Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the seventh clip since 2013 was named Speedway of the Year among the 8 Speedway Motorsports-owned NASCAR tracks.

“General manager Chris Powell and his full unit merit this peculiar designation not lone for their show nether challenging circumstances but for showing the quality to execute truthful overmuch much than what was expected oregon anticipated,” Speedway Motorsports president Marcus Smith said successful a statement.

0:01

UNLV shot accusation manager Mark Wallington, connected the instrumentality of the Allstate Mayhem feline to assemblage shot commercials:

“So Mayhem is backmost successful Allstate ads successful ’22. Did helium opt retired past season?”

#Allstate's #Mayhem feline volition recreate existent people's #DIY video fails successful #collegefootball ad.https://t.co/zBNQJVXdgL pic.twitter.com/iiB5hd9uqv

— Outsource Marketing (@OMGUSA) January 4, 2016

Contact Ron Kantowski astatine rkantowski@reviewjournal.com oregon 702-383-0352. Follow @ronkantowski connected Twitter.