Mario Sanchez didn't hesitate when UNLV athletic director Mike Hamrick called Tuesday to offer him the job as coach of the men's soccer team.
"Immediately," Sanchez said about when he could begin rebuilding the Rebels' program.
In line to take over the impressive University of Akron program, Sanchez nonetheless could not turn down the UNLV opportunity.
As a Zips assistant to coach Ken Lolla, who recently took over at Louisville, Sanchez helped Akron become a top 20 team that reached the NCAA College Cup last season.
While cleaning out his office Thursday in Akron, Sanchez admitted that he had been part of something special in Ohio, and that the returning players and administration asked him to stay.
"At the same time, I'm a West Coast guy," he said. "And what's going on at UNLV, and in the city itself, is very intriguing. In the long-term aspect, I saw more of a future at UNLV than Akron. I think the ability to compete on a national level will be greater at UNLV."
It helped that Sanchez's parents, Orlando and Maria, have lived in Las Vegas for three years. A younger sister, Melissa Zaldivar, and members of Orlando's side of the family also live in the area.
Sanchez will drive to Las Vegas from Akron on Tuesday and spend his first day in his new UNLV office Friday.
"I'm excited," said Sanchez, who has a young son and infant daughter with wife Shana. "The future's unlimited for UNLV."
A return to prominence will be challenging. In five of his first seven years, former coach Barry Barto guided the Rebels to the NCAA tournament. Then came a long dry spell. After UNLV went 2-16-1 to miss the postseason for a 17th consecutive year, Hamrick dismissed Barto in November.
The roster will be young and inexperienced. The pitch at Peter Johann Field, a well-manicured jewel not so long ago, looked like an overused sandlot field by the end of the season after UNLV took responsibility for its upkeep from Barto.
Still, Sanchez paid tribute to the energy and sacrifice that Barto gave to the program.
"I can't say enough for him building a program and facilities on a national level," Sanchez said. "Talk to anyone, and Barry's up there for establishing the college game."
Sanchez said Hamrick brought up the condition of the field in their interviews.
"He said it was a concern and that it will be taken care of, that they'll have it back to being one of the best playing surfaces in the country," Sanchez said.
His players on that field will have a one-two touch style, moving quickly and sharing the ball, much like Akron did.
"They will work hard and have a team-first attitude," Sanchez said. "At Akron, everyone bought into the philosophy that everything is about the team, not about individuals. The way we play will reflect that."
Rob Miech can be reached at 259-4087 or at [email protected].
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