[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 2287]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 78--RELATIVE TO THE DEATH OF JERRY TARKANIAN, FORMER 
      HEAD BASKETBALL COACH OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, LAS VEGAS

  Mr. HELLER (for himself and Mr. Reid) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                               S. Res. 78

       Whereas Jerry Tarkanian was born August 8, 1930, in Euclid, 
     Ohio, graduated from Fresno State in 1955, and earned a 
     Master's degree from the University of Redlands in 1956;
       Whereas Jerry Tarkanian is survived by his wife, 4 
     children, and 11 grandchildren;
       Whereas Jerry Tarkanian never had a losing season during 
     the 19 years he coached the University of Nevada, Las Vegas 
     (UNLV) men's basketball team from 1973 to 1992, leading the 
     ``Runnin' Rebels'' to a 509-105 record, 4 Final Four 
     appearances, and the 1990 National Collegiate Athletic 
     Association (NCAA) Division I Men's Basketball National 
     Championship;
       Whereas UNLV won the 1990 championship game by defeating 
     the Duke University Blue Devils 103 to 73, the highest margin 
     of victory in a championship game in NCAA Division I history;
       Whereas Jerry Tarkanian unified the Las Vegas community, 
     and became beloved by Nevadans and many more throughout the 
     United States who watched as Tarkanian coached his teams to 
     victory in the Thomas & Mack Center (also known as ``the 
     Shark Tank''), often while nervously chewing a towel at 
     courtside;
       Whereas over the course of a 38-year career that spanned 
     high school, junior college, Division I of the NCAA, and the 
     National Basketball Association, Jerry Tarkanian won 990 
     career games and received the 1983 United Press International 
     Coach of the Year award;
       Whereas Jerry Tarkanian's immeasurable contributions to the 
     game of basketball, which included his signature usage of the 
     amoeba defense to wear down opposing teams, were recognized 
     when he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame 
     in 2013; and
       Whereas Jerry Tarkanian's off-the-court contributions to 
     Las Vegas and the entire State of Nevada are admired and 
     deeply appreciated by all who call Nevada home: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the 
     announcement of the death of Jerry Tarkanian; and
       (2) requests the Secretary of the Senate to prepare an 
     official copy of this resolution for presentation to the 
     family of Jerry Tarkanian.

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