Since leaving Arizona's coaching staff in 2008, Josh Pastner has gone from promising young coach to 48-year-old veteran who has been found wanting at Memphis and Georgia Tech. Pastner is 276-187 (59% success) in his head coaching career.
Former UA player and staffer Josh Pastner, shown directing Georgia Tech during an ACC Tournament game in March 2023, is back in coaching after spending two years as a television analyst.
Ever a salesman, Pastner presented a good case for a troubled UNLV program to give him a third shot at coaching success. Pastner is the 10th UNLV head coach since Jerry Tarkanian left in 1991. It has been so long that UNLV has even gone through a father (Lon Kruger) and son (Kevin Kruger) as head coaches in that period. Last year, the Rebels drew an average of just 4,969 in games at Thomas & Mack Center.
A diligent recruiter, Pastner rebuilt UNLV's roster with transfers from Arizona, Illinois, Alabama, High Point, Texas-Rio Grande, Louisiana Tech and a player from New Zealand. Alas, UNLV lost to Washington 77-62 in a preseason exhibition game. Washington is unranked. The Rebels were picked to finish fifth of 11 in the Mountain West Conference preseason poll and have a do-able schedule. The only ranked team is Alabama.
