In The News: Intercollegiate Athletics

Harper was named UNLV’s 14th permanent Director of Athletics on Jan. 1, 2022, and is in his fifth year. He also served as the department’s interim athletics director from August 2021 through the end of that year.

UNLV has extended athletic director Erick Harper on a four-year contract, interim President Chris Heavey announced today. Harper has led the department since 2022.

UNLV sports have captured 15 conference championships in Harper’s first four seasons, with 11 league coach of the year awards and multiple NCAA Tournament appearances.

The co-ed team notches its seventh national title since 2013.

Sip & Savor stars more than 40 top women chefs, restaurateurs, beverage professionals and other hospitality leaders. The Women’s Hospitality Initiative, dedicated to advancing women in the hospitality industry in Vegas, is presenting Sip & Savor, which benefits the Initiative, career programs for UNLV women athletes and UNLV’s WomenUp leadership development programs.

“If you win coach of the year, that’s fantastic, but I can’t do this by myself. Football is a major team game, and this goes to UNLV and the whole city of Las Vegas.”

Dan Mullen’s 10-win season in his UNLV coaching debut is still being celebrated. On Monday, Mullen was presented the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach Award during a reception at Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille in Gainsville, Fla.

Perhaps no U.S. Olympian has had quite the meteoric rise as bobsled star Kaysha Love. Before 2020, the Utah native had not even competed on the ice track, but entering the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, Love has as much momentum as any athlete in the sport.

The coed dance team are now back-to-back champions after bringing home another national championship at the Universal Dance Association College Nationals in Florida. The dance team took home first place in the hip hop and game day categories.

UNLV’s co-ed dance team won a national championship for the second year in a row. The Rebel Girls & Co. dance team earned first place in the game day and hip-hop categories for Division 1A this weekend at the Universal Dance Association’s College National Championships in Orlando, Florida. The competition is widely considered to be the country’s most important collegiate dance championship.

During the Runnin’ Rebels’ Game of Recognition and Inclusion, athletes with special and additional needs were introduced alongside the team, participated in timeout activities and played in a five-minute halftime game — a moment organizers say represents something much bigger than basketball.

UNLV announced an agreement with Acesso Biologics, a Las Vegas-based medical provider, to become the first official multisport corporate jersey patch and on-field logo partner in NCAA athletics. The use of sponsorship through jersey patches has been growing at the college level in the past few years as part of the expanding name, image and likeness (NIL) opportunities for athletes. UNLV Associate Athletics Director Andy Grossman confirmed a report by The Athletic that the five-year sponsorship deal is worth $11 million. The jersey patch will appear on home and away uniforms worn by UNLV football and baseball players and members of the men’s and women’s basketball teams. In addition, Acesso’s logo will appear on the net behind Allegiant Stadium’s south goal posts during UNLV football games.