UNLV Had Him in the Building — and Still Lost
Bryan Hodgson wasn’t just a name on a list.
He was in the building.
He had the backing of local media, national buzz, and a résumé that matched what UNLV needed in this era — a modern recruiter, a portal machine, and a culture builder.
And despite all that…
UNLV still lost him to South Florida.
So What Happened?
Let’s not sugarcoat it — this came down to NIL and administrative dysfunction.
• NIL was nowhere close to what Hodgson needed to build and sustain a competitive program.
• Boosters didn’t step up.
• There was no organized effort to close the deal.
• The same chaos that’s been quietly hurting UNLV for years was suddenly exposed — publicly.
People want to act shocked, but this has been building.
This Isn’t 1990 Anymore
UNLV is still trying to operate like the logo recruits itself.
But here’s the truth:
• The money isn’t behind basketball anymore.
• Casino donors have shifted to football.
• The NIL structure is disorganized, and frankly, embarrassing at a national level.
• Boosters are either disconnected or tired of being ignored.
• The athletic department is under financial scrutiny, with over $30 million in reported deficits and regents openly questioning leadership.
This job is no longer what it once was — and the rest of the country knows it.
Hodgson Saw the Writing on the Wall
And honestly?
He played it perfectly.
He used UNLV’s interest to generate buzz.
Let the Vegas media go all in on him.
Let the national outlets catch fire.
And when he saw that the NIL promises didn’t match the pitch?
He flipped the script and went to USF, a place with better support and better structure.
It’s objectively hilarious if it wasn’t so tragic.
UNLV had the guy.
And still lost him because the system behind the scenes is broken.
What Should’ve Been a Turning Point… Became a Punchline
Let’s remember — this wasn’t just about a coaching hire.
This was a program-defining moment.
You had:
• A chance to keep Dedan Thomas Jr. and Jaden Henley
• A loaded 2025 recruiting class from Arkansas State lined up
• A coach with national relationships and real recruiting clout
• A way to put UNLV back on the map in the Mountain West
Instead, you got:
• Another PR disaster
• Another dragged-out search
• Another reminder to the country that UNLV basketball is lost in the wilderness
And That Brings Us to Josh Pastner
Now you’re hiring a guy who’s been out of coaching for two years.
Yes, he has a track record. Yes, he’s polished.
But let’s be real — this is a safe hire after blowing the real one.
Pastner is the result of a broken process, not a vision-driven plan.
He deserves support, but he’s walking into a fractured situation.
Final Word
This wasn’t just a miss.
It was a message.
UNLV isn’t serious right now.
Until the NIL is real, until the department is run with urgency, and until leadership is aligned — this program will keep spinning in circles.
Hodgson didn’t just walk away.
He exposed everything we already knew.
And the worst part?
It was avoidable.