UNLV Finalizes Deal with Josh Pastner as Head Coach

Josh Pastner, the former head coach of Georgia Tech and Memphis, is set to be hired as the new head coach at UNLV, following the firing of Kevin Kruger after an 18-15 season. Pastner, who compiled a 276-187 record during his previous coaching stints, has expressed his desire to return to coaching after spending the last two seasons as a basketball analyst. He previously faced challenges at Georgia Tech, including off-court issues and a record of 109-114, but was named ACC Coach of the Year in 2017 and led the team to an ACC Tournament title in 2021. Pastner's connection to UNLV runs deep, as he and the athletic director have a history from their time at Arizona. His hiring is viewed as a promising move for UNLV, aiming to revitalize the program after a coaching change. Pastner indicated that he turned down previous coaching offers to take time to 'recenter' himself before this opportunity arose.