Las Vegas Sun

March 19, 2024

Kreigh Warkentien leaving UNLV for Washington

UNLV 2013 NCAA Tournament Practice

Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun

UNLV director of basketball operations Kreigh Warkentien lifts up Khem Birch’s headphones to tell him how much time remained before practice for their second round NCAA Tournament game against Cal Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.

One of UNLV’s key behind-the-scenes staffers is leaving the program, as assistant athletics director for men’s basketball Kreigh Warkentien has accepted a position with the University of Washington.

Warkentien was hired as UNLV’s director of basketball operations in 2011 and served in that role for four-plus seasons under former head coach Dave Rice. When Marvin Menzies was hired in the spring of 2016, Warkentien was moved to her current role as assistant athletic director for men’s basketball alumni relations and special events.

Warkentien will be Washington’s chief administrator for men’s basketball. She begins her new job next week.

“I’m excited for U-Dub,” Warkentien said, “and the opportunity to gain more experience as I continue with my career.”

Rice was hired as an assistant coach at Washington in April and suggested Warkentien for the job.

Warkentien was one of the few remaining ties to UNLV’s glory days on the hardwood. Her father, Mark Warkentien, was an assistant coach under Jerry Tarkanian from 1981-87 and later served as an assistant AD. He is currently the director of player personnel for the New York Knicks.

Kreigh Warkentien admitted it wasn’t easy to leave UNLV.

“It’s definitely one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make,” Warkentien said. “I was born and raised in Las Vegas and took my first steps on the Thomas & Mack court, so I’ll always feel like a Rebel at heart. It’s not just the city of Las Vegas, but the people we have on staff, it’s like family. It’s not easy to leave family, but sometimes you have to challenge yourself in order to move ahead.”

Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.

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