Locals not prominent among AD candidates

Several candidates for UNLV's athletic director position have bubbled to the surface, but with no local names among them, two sources with knowledge of the search said Monday.

One of the sources said UCLA senior associate athletic director Ross Bjork was one of the candidates.

No other names were confirmed, though one source said former Oregon athletic director Bill Moos -- who has expressed interest in the position -- is not among the leading candidates.

Both sources spoke on the condition of confidentiality because UNLV is trying to limit information during the process. Search committee members have signed nondisclosure forms.

Bjork, 37, would not comment about the UNLV job. He is in his fifth year at UCLA, and during the last academic year helped raise a school-record $25.4 million. Bjork also worked in administration at Miami, Missouri and Western Kentucky.

Applications are still being accepted, so new candidates could emerge. The search committee met last Tuesday for an update, and chairman Gerry Bomotti said another meeting probably will occur before the Dec. 1 meeting that could produce the finalists.

"My experience is you never know how this is going to end up," Bomotti said. "We're building a really strong pool, and in the end we'll make our selections."

Bomotti denied a handful of candidates have stood out, saying the committee has spent most of its time tossing out applicants who did not meet requirements. He said about 50 have applied for the position made vacant when Mike Hamrick left for Marshall in August.

South Point Arena general manager Steve Stallworth, a former Rebels quarterback, has applied. Interim athletic director Jerry Koloskie, a UNLV athletic department employee for 26 years, said he has been so busy with his daily duties, including a nascent search for a new football coach, to be concerned about the AD search.

Plenty of familiar names have been mentioned as possible replacements for coach Mike Sanford, whose last game is at 6 p.m. Saturday against San Diego State at Sam Boyd Stadium. But the coaching vacancy hasn't been advertised yet, and without a permanent athletic director, trying to figure out the next coach is a guessing game.

Koloskie said at least 50 coaches have expressed interest, and he said he simply is collecting names and doing background checks.

"I can't really do anything more than that right now," Koloskie said.

The absence of a permanent athletic director, coupled with the sport's recruiting calendar, does not work in UNLV's favor. The early signing period for junior college players is next month, and the Rebels could find themselves behind in trying to secure commitments for the February signing day if a coach isn't in place fairly quickly.

UNLV, though, is increasing its pay for Sanford's replacement. The new coach probably will earn about $700,000 compared to $425,000 for Sanford. Also, the Mountain West Conference enjoys a higher profile today than when Sanford was hired in December 2004.

"The only setback to hiring a football coach right now is the timing," Koloskie said.

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914.