Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

Rich Abajian, one of UNLV football’s biggest backers, remembered for his support

Bryce Harper Day at Findlay Toyota

Steve Spatafore

Bryce Harper Day at Findlay Toyota in Henderson on Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. Harper, right, is pictured with Rich Abajian.

Rich Abajian, a former UNLV football assistant coach and the chief operation officer at Findlay Automotive Group, died Tuesday night.

From helping launch the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame to being a fixture around UNLV athletics, Abajian’s impact in the Las Vegas community — especially its sports scene — was extensively felt. He was 62.

“Rich Abajian was such a big supporter of this school and UNLV football, and he will be deeply missed,” UNLV coach Tony Sanchez said in a statement. “It didn’t matter what the year was, who the staff was, Rich was steadfast in his support of the Rebels and that is something special.”

Abajian was on the UNLV staff from 1977-81, serving his final two seasons as the Rebels’ defensive backs coach. He played defensive back at UNR, where he was a 1975 graduate.

He made his mark in the car sales industry for UNLV booster Cliff Findlay, eventually becoming a partner in Findlay Toyota and serving as the chief operation officer of the Findlay Automotive Group.

His greatest impact, though, was at UNLV. Whether it was financial support or simply being there on game days, Abajian championed UNLV athletics, especially its football program.

“Rich was a giant in this community when it came to being successful in business and then using that success to help others,” UNLV Director of Athletics Tina Kunzer-Murphy said in a statement. “His love of this city, of UNLV and especially the Rebel football program, is well known. Rich was warm, generous, talented, competitive and inspiring and it is truly a sad day for Southern Nevada and our entire University.”

Information on services was pending.

Click to enlarge photo

Bobby Hauck, left, meets boosters Rich Abajian, center, and Tyler Corder during a news conference to announce Hauck's hiring Wednesday, December 23, 2009.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21

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