Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

Albrecht, founder of UNLV’s Alumni Association, dies

albrecht

R. Marsh Starks / UNLV Photo Services

Fred Albrecht is shown on campus.

Updated Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016 | 11:04 p.m.

Fred Albrecht, a former UNLV tennis coach, teacher and administrator who founded UNLV's Alumni Association and helped raise funds to construct the association's building, died Friday. He was 71.

Albrecht’s death was announced by the school that employed him for 37 years, starting in 1970 when he began serving as an assistant basketball coach. He had been battling cancer.

He became the school's winningest tennis coach and retired as vice president for the school and community relations. He also served as UNLV’s director of alumni relations and executive director of athletic fundraising, and he had two stints as interim athletic director.

He was awarded the UNLV President's Medal and in 2012 was inducted into the university's Athletics Hall of Fame.

"Fred was an icon on this campus and to all who knew and loved him," Tina Kunzer-Murphy, the school's athletic director, said in the statement. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to Fred's wife, Connie, his daughter, Michelle, and the entire family."

UNLV President Len Jessup stated: “Fred had a tremendous impact on UNLV and will be remembered as one of our greatest ambassadors. He was UNLV’s renaissance man, stepping up when the university needed him in a variety of roles."

Former Gov. Bob Miller added in a statement: "Fred was truly Mr. UNLV. Nobody embodied the spirit of UNLV and the Rebels more than he did. For over 40 years, Fred dedicated himself to helping grow a small campus to the premier university that it is today. … UNLV was blessed to have Fred Albrecht as its constant advocate."

Albrecht was born in Youngstown, Ohio, and earned a master’s degree in education while at the university.

The school plans a memorial, and his family requested donations be made to the Fred C. Albrecht Scholarship Fund at UNLV.

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