Despite the loss by the Lady Rebels in Arizona, fans in the Las Vegas valley are proud of their efforts and believe the basketball team will help inspire valley girls to think about playing for UNLV.

It’s March and the NCAA Tournament is calling the Lady Rebels. UNLV is hosting a send-off for the women’s basketball team as they head to the tournament for the first time in 20 years.

After a six-month national search, UNLV introduced one of its own to take over as the school’s new Athletic Director. That person is Erick Harper, and he says he has a mission of making the Rebels a championship brand.

UNLV has promoted interim athletic director Erick Harper to serve in the job full time.

Harper has served as the Rebels' interim athletic director since August, following Desiree Reed-Francois's departure for the University of Missouri.

UNLV’s next athletic director is Erick Harper, the man who has been doing the job on an interim basis for the past four months.

UNLV President Keith E. Whitfield announced on Jan. 3 that Erick Harper has been selected as the school's next athletics director. Harper has served as interim UNLV athletics director since August and was selected to continue in the position permanently following a national search this fall, the school said.

Harper took the role effective Jan. 1, after UNLV President Keith E. Whitfield made the selection official.

UNLV has named interim athletic director Erick Harper to the position on a permanent basis, the university announced Monday.

UNLV formalized the hiring of athletic director Erick Harper on Monday, effective Jan. 1, university president Keith E. Whitfield announced in a statement.