UNLV AD search drawing national interest?

Until now, most of the speculation regarding UNLV's next athletic director has centered mostly on local candidates.

But a national name said today he is interested in the position, which became available when Mike Hamrick left for Marshall in August. Jerry Koloskie has been serving in an interim role.

Bill Moos, the former athletic director at Oregon and Montana, touted his experience and said UNLV has the potential for success.

"I've got 25 years of experience in intercollegiate athletics, 17 of those as a Division I athletic director," said Moos, 58. "We're proud of what we accomplished."

Under Moos' watch from 1995 to 2007, Oregon's athletic budget went from $18 million to $41 million, making the athletic department completely self-sufficient. The Ducks also won 13 Pacific-10 Conference championships, including two in football and three in men's basketball (including the league tournament). Oregon's football team also has sold out 66 consecutive games dating back to 1999.

Moos said fund-raising would be a priority if he was hired at UNLV, and he would be a hands-on manager.

"At the end of the day, you have to run the program, and the final decisions land directly at your desk," Moos said.

He acknowledged it would take time to get to know the donors, and said he wouldn't make immediate changes.

"In the two programs I left at Montana and Oregon, you need to get a feel as far as the territory and a certain feel there with the department," Moos said. "I'm not one to come in and start breaking up the furniture. They've got the talent to run the department. I'd be eager to learn."

Since leaving Oregon, Moos and his family have been living on a ranch near Spokane, Wash. The desire to return to athletics has returned, Moos said.

"I think they miss the action, too," he said of his family. "It's a fascinating profession, and there are a lot of aspects to it that we miss. If I was 10 or 15 years older, I probably wouldn't, but I've got a lot of energy. So (the UNLV opening) has piqued it a bit."

The job was advertised beginning Wednesday, and the deadline for priority application is Nov. 30. The search committee next meets Dec. 1.