UNLV basketball great Glen Gondrezick dead at 53

Glen Gondrezick, whose hustle earned him recognition as one of the greatest players in UNLV basketball history, died Monday of what was believed to be complications from a heart transplant he received in September.

Gondrezick, 53, starred on the Rebels’ first Final Four team in 1977, and his jersey No. 25 was retired in 1997. He was the color commentator on UNLV’s radio broadcasts for the past 17 years.

A St. Rose Dominican Hospital spokesperson confirmed Gondrezick died early Monday evening at the Siena campus in Henderson.

“I was devastated when I heard that,” former Rebels coach Jerry Tarkanian said. “I talked to Gondo several times since he had the new heart, and it sounded like he was doing well.

“He was one of the greatest competitors we ever had at UNLV.”

Robert Smith, Gondrezick’s teammate for three seasons, said, “It’s a sad day for UNLV basketball. It’s like losing a brother.”

Gondrezick told friends he was struggling with his health in recent weeks. His closest friend, Bobby Gleason, drove him to St. Rose about 9 a.m.

“He had been complaining that he was lightheaded and had shortness of breath,” Gleason said, adding that Gondrezick died about 6 p.m. “As we were driving to the hospital, Gondo said, 'I’m not really looking forward to getting poked and prodded again, but at least somebody is going to do something to get me better.’

“Everybody thought that was going to happen.”

Gondrezick was scheduled to go to UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles on Monday, but Gleason said, “He just wasn’t up to traveling to UCLA for a checkup.”

Gleason said Gondrezick’s body is believed to have rejected the heart he received at UCLA on Sept. 20.

Gondrezick suffered from congenital heart disease, and his heart was pumping at about 9 percent capacity before the transplant, which came after he spent almost six months on the donor list.

“I talked to him probably two weeks ago, and he said he was having some issues and he wasn’t feeling great,” said Jon Sandler, UNLV’s play-by-play broadcaster for the past five years. “It’s very sad.”

Gondrezick is survived by two sons, Kellen and Travis, and a daughter, Britt. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Gondrezick was part of Tarkanian’s first recruiting class and became a starter late in Tarkanian’s first season in 1973-74.

In four years, Gondrezick scored 1,311 points, ranking 16th on the Rebels’ all-time scoring list. He scored 14.6 points per game as a senior for a UNLV team that set several NCAA scoring records and reached the Final Four.

“We had a lot of different types of guys on that team, but we all came together and worked together, and Gondo was a very big part of that,” Smith said.

After his college career, Gondrezick played six seasons in the NBA, four with the Denver Nuggets and two with the New York Knicks.

Gondrezick was not heavily recruited out of high school in Colorado, but he did get a home visit from Tarkanian that proved fateful.

“He basically wanted to go to Oregon, but they kept putting him off because they thought they were going to get Adrian Dantley,” Tarkanian said.

“Gondo finally said, 'Coach, to hell with Oregon, I’m going to UNLV.’

“I’ve said this many, many times: The most important ingredient in an individual is loyalty, and Gondo epitomized that.

“He was one of the guys who really got the fans into the Rebels. They liked our style, and Gondo played so hard all the time. There’s no doubt he led the nation in taking charges. He was just so tough.”

Gleason met Gondrezick when they worked together at The Mirage in 1989. Gleason was a bartender, and Gondrezick was bar manager.

Gleason stayed close to Gondrezick during his heart transplant.

“I called him one day, and he was laughing and joking,” Gleason said. “I said, 'Where are you?’ He said, 'I’m on the operating table right now, and they told me I’ve got to hang up the phone.’

“The biggest thing about Gondo was his sense of humor. He never, ever lost his sense of humor, right up until he passed. It’s just amazing.

“I remember the day he got the call to be the color announcer for UNLV. He was so excited that day.”

Tarkanian told several Gondrezick tales before pausing.

“I love Gondo,” he said, “I really did.”

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.