Rebel coaches never saw breakup coming

UNLV's coaches had a wide range of reactions to Tuesday's announcement that the school will be leaving the Western Athletic Conference in 1999. But most shared a common emotion: surprise.

"I didn't see this coming," Rebels men's tennis coach Larry Easley said. "With that many schools, I can't believe they kept it that quiet."

"I had no idea this might happen," echoed volleyball coach Deitre Collins.

The shocking nature of the news aside, UNLV's coaches had differing opinions about whether the move would be a positive one for their programs.

Easley, for one, welcomed the news. Since joining the WAC in 1996, the men's tennis team has had to contend with national powers TCU, SMU and Tulsa in its bid for the conference's lone automatic NCAA tournament berth.

"It was such a big conference," Easley said. "This will bring it down to something more manageable. The WAC tournament was like a Bataan death march. You had to win four tough matches. Now it's down to probably two tough matches."

UNLV men's soccer coach Barry Barto was left wondering about the future of his sport in the proposed new conference, which will feature only three other schools with men's soccer programs.

"My concern is just trying to re-organize where we are in terms of soccer," Barto said. "We lose five teams in this deal."

Barto said one possibility has UNLV soccer team rejoining the Mountain-Pacific Sports Federation, its longtime home until joining the WAC in 1996.

For Collins' volleyball team, the change will mean the loss of perennial national powerhouse Hawaii (her alma mater) from her squad's schedule, something she fears could hurt her program down the road.

"For recruiting purposes, Hawaii is a great school to have in your conference," Collins said. "I don't think it's ever good to lose somebody who brings your RPI (Ratings Percentage Index) up."

But Collins said there will be advantages to playing in the new eight-team league.

"I think financially for my budget, it makes it a lot easier," she said. "And the eight schools that are left are good volleyball schools, so we're still a decent conference."

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