Will UNLV go high school or big-time college to replace Dave Rice?

UNLV athletic director Tina Kunzer-Murphy was answering questions Sunday evening about the firing (with a capital F) of Dave Rice when the future was mentioned, specifically if the school will commence a national search to identify a new full-time basketball coach.

"I would say that I think so," Kunzer-Murphy said. "At the end of the year, if I would have a guess, I would guess we would go out and have a national search."

Let's hope it's a lot more than a guess.

Let's hope someone at UNLV finally decides it's time for the Rebels to at least act like a big-time program, even if it doesn't pay like one.

Are you listening, Len Jessup?

UNLV's president has worked at places like Indiana and Arizona and is said to be a fairly knowledgeable basketball guy, so perhaps he deserves the benefit of the doubt, until he proves otherwise, that the search will not only be national and legitimate, but won't act as some charade for boosters with personal agendas.

This time, let's hope no one at UNLV is convinced any recruiting class is worth making the wrong call on the basketball coach.

Hint: It's not.

Let's hope someone, beginning with Jessup, thinks on a much larger and long-term scale.

Jessup must take a leading role here.

Be big-time, not high school.

Rice was fired mid-way through his fifth season and replaced with assistant Todd Simon on an interim basis, a man chosen to lead the Rebels over others on staff with far more experience.

But the real reasons behind why the latter occurred and however things go until UNLV plays its final game of the season notwithstanding, the head coach of the city's premier athletic program is far too important for university officials not to search far and wide for the absolute best choice.

Which will demand a few things change.

First, the university and its fan base have to accept reality: It's not 1990. Move on. Stop being delusional. College basketball is so much more complex now. How you coach, how you schedule, how you recruit, how you scout, how you advance to the NCAA Tournament.

You can't replicate 25 years ago. Do you think teams obsessed over Ratings Percentage Index then like they do now? Kenpom ratings weren't even evaluated until 13 years after the Rebels won their title.

Jerry Tarkanian figured out better than anyone how to win in his era. He was ahead of everyone. A master.

This is a different time.

This just in: Oklahoma football didn't advance to the national playoff this year by running the wishbone. Get. Over. It.

Forget also this weird and sophomoric belief that UNLV basketball must be led by one of its own or someone with ties to the community.

Just go hire the best coach, for heaven's sake, because if you do and that guy takes you on deep NCAA runs, guess what? He will be considered as much a Runnin' Rebel as anyone.

Lon Kruger is one of the best coaches nationally, but he wasn't flashy enough for many in Las Vegas. He didn't recruit at a high enough level, many believed, although who wouldn't take Oscar Bellfield or Anthony Marshall at point guard right now?

Who honestly doesn't believe today's UNLV of the current staff's recruiting decisions needs a lot more Ben Carters and a few less Chris Woods?

Kruger's offense also wasn't enough run-and-gun for most locally, not that the Rebels have run at all since he departed.

Have you watched Oklahoma under Kruger? It runs all the time, because as any terrific coach does, he designs style to personnel.

Some guys are both great coaches and recruiters, but the fact is John Calipari or Mike Krzyzewksi or Bill Self or Tom Izzo or Sean Miller aren't walking through any UNLV doors.

Besides, those guys tip more than the UNLV coach makes.

Then you have guys who can flat coach but struggle recruiting. And guys who think they can coach but really can't. And guys who can recruit, understand they can't coach but are intelligent enough to surround themselves with great X and O assistants.

At this point, I'm not sure what category UNLV's staff falls under.

The university just needs to hire the absolute best coach it can get without worrying where he comes from and if he can win the press conference.

Money is also an issue for UNLV, which either doesn't understand what legitimate people make or refuses to pay it.

"Our regents have authority over contracts for the athletic director, football coach and men's basketball coach," Kunzer-Murphy said. "There are some in that camp that believe the going market (for a basketball coach) is too high and some very reasonable people who understand the mechanics across the country."

Fine. Then understand this: Chris Mack at Xavier makes $1.2 million annually; Chris Mooney at Richmond makes $700,000; Ben Jacobson at Northern Iowa makes under $600,000.

What, UNLV and its tradition and facilities and conference affiliation can't afford and land any of them, each of whom would be a ridiculously massive upgrade from anyone on UNLV's staff today? Do you know how much better the Rebels would immediately become with any of those coaches? Do you know how many like them are out there if you actually do some homework?

All guys like Mack do is reach the Sweet 16 every other year. His team is a No. 1 overall NCAA seed in mock brackets today. Xavier!

What, that wouldn't play well here? Maybe it would be impossible to convince Mack, a Cincinnati guy, to leave his home. But don't you have to make the call?

Heck, Larry Shyatt makes $715,00 at Wyoming. Leon Rice makes $672,000 at Boise State. Larry Eustachy makes $910,000 at Colorado State. Go steal one of the guys within your own conference who has consistently out-coached your team and made more national news with far fewer advantages the last several years.

There are many outstanding head coaches UNLV can afford.

It absolutely must hire someone with previous head coaching experience, be it in the NBA or college.

Step out of the time machine and get serious and stop worrying about who your friends/boosters want to be the coach.

Let's see if Jessup has it in him to make it happen. His must be the final voice this time. He must take a leading role.

This is big boy basketball.

UNLV needs to start acting the part.

Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618. He can be a heard on "Seat and Ed" on Fox Sports 1340 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. On Twitter: @edgraney