How Josh Pastner Can Actually Succeed at UNLV
Pastner said all the right things at his intro presser. Energy. Passion. Alumni engagement. He looked the part, sounded the part, and said what fans wanted to hear.
But if he’s going to turn this around, words won’t cut it.
Here’s what actually needs to happen — no fluff.
1. NIL. Nothing else matters if this isn’t fixed.
Pastner didn’t dodge it:
“NIL is the game.”
“You have to have great NIL. If you don’t, it’s hard to get players. That’s the game. That’s the new model.”
This is the foundation. UNLV cannot function like a top program if it’s operating on a bottom-tier NIL model.
You can’t keep guys like Dedan Thomas Jr. or Jaden Henley without NIL.
You can’t flip a roster in the portal without NIL.
You can’t compete in the Mountain West — which has 4 tournament teams this year — without NIL.
Programs like Utah State are fundraising, building, and openly promoting their NIL collectives. UNLV has the city, the history, and the brand. Now it needs the backing.
2. Retain Dedan and Henley. Period.
Dedan is the most valuable piece of this rebuild. He’s a proven lead guard who makes everyone better. Henley is a perfect wing fit for Pastner’s style — long, athletic, and disruptive.
Lose them, and the whole plan changes.
Keep them, and you walk into Year 1 with a real core.
But again — NIL will decide this.
3. Own the Portal — and Rebuild the Vegas Pipeline
UNLV has been losing in the portal for years. Not just nationally, but locally. That’s where the reset starts.
Pop Isaacs being in the portal is symbolic. He’s not the reset button, but he represents everything UNLV has let slip away — real Vegas talent playing for someone else.
That’s what needs to change.
There are multiple Vegas-born or Vegas-prepped players in the portal right now. If Pastner is serious about winning the city back, go get them. Convince them to come home. Build something they want to be part of.
This rebuild won’t be complete until the local community feels ownership of the program again.
4. Bring the Alumni Back (And Mean It)
Pastner hit this hard in the press conference:
“We need the former players back. This is their program. This is their home.”
“If you don’t recognize and respect the past, you can’t build the future.”
Now prove it.
It’s not just about Larry Johnson and Shawn Marion. It’s about Wink Adams. Anthony Marshall. Mike Moser. Guys who put this place on their back and still care.
Get them involved. Make them part of the culture again. UNLV has been disconnected from its own roots for too long.
5. Hire an Alum to the Staff
This one’s simple: if you’re rebuilding the bridge to the city, you need someone on the staff who understands it — and has lived it.
A respected former Rebel on the bench brings credibility, community trust, and recruiting pull. This isn’t a PR stunt. It’s smart basketball business.
6. Build a Staff That Wins in Today’s Game
Pastner needs people around him who understand:
• The portal
• The West Coast
• Modern defense
• And how to close on top talent
This can’t be a comfort staff. This has to be a “we’re trying to win now” staff.
Final Word:
“I don’t want to wait. I want to get UNLV back to the NCAA Tournament as fast as we can.”
Then here’s how you do it:
• Fix NIL
• Keep your stars
• Own the portal
• Reconnect to Vegas
• Bring your alumni in
• Build a real staff
The energy is right. The words are right.
Now let’s see if the infrastructure and investment match it.
If not? We’ll be back here in 3 years, having this same conversation again.