Jerry Tarkanian

Jerry Tarkanian ( born August 8, 1930 in Euclid, Ohio ) is a retired American basketball coach of Armenian descent. He is best known for his time as coach of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas from 1973 until 1992. Tarkanian ended his career in 2002 with a balance of 778 victories in only 202 defeats. With its rate of 78.4 % is Tarkanian as coach in fifth place in the history of college basketball.

Life

Jerry Tarkanian is the eldest son of Armenian immigrants. His mother fled during the genocide of the Armenians after her father and eldest brother were beheaded by Turkish soldiers. Tarkanian has a younger sister Alice and a brother Myron Tarkanian. When Jerry was 13 years old died in his biological father. Until 1955, Tarkanian studied at Fresno State University. Jerry Tarkanian is married. He and his wife, Lois, have four children and seven grandchildren.

Career

Between 1956 and 1960, Tarkanian was coach of various high schools in the area of Fresno. His career as a college coach, he began at Riverside City College, where he was employed from 1961 to 1966. It was followed by two years at Pasadena City College, as well as five years as coach of the Long Beach State University. Finally he came to UNLV in 1973. The Running Rebels 1990 he won the NCAA championship against Duke. The following year, the team the entire season unbeaten. Until the final, where they again met at Duke, and this time defeated.

1992 left Tarkanian, the Running Rebels. From 1995 to 2002 he was the coach of his alma mater, Fresno State, where he celebrated his 700th win as a college coach. Tarkanian finished his career as the fourth most successful coach of the NCAA history. His record as a junior college coach ( 212-26 ) is the best at this level.

In 2013 he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.