Jerry Tarkanian, the former University of Nevada, Las Vegas basketball coach known as "Tark the Shark," died Wednesday. He was 84.
Tarkanian’s son, Danny Tarkanian, confirmed the death on Twitter.
Tarkanian was admitted to the hospital on Monday with a
respiratory infection, according to ESPN. He reportedly had heart problems for years and suffered two heart attacks. He was hospitalized three times in the past 10 months, including once for treatment for pneumonia in November.
Tarkanian had a career record of 761-202, coaching at Long Beach State from 1969 to 1973, UNLV from 1973 to 1992, and Fresno State from
1995 to 2002, the Orange County Register reported.
"Tark the Shark" led UNLV to one championship and to the Final Four four times during his career. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame in 2013.
The coach, who often chewed on towels during games, is also known for going toe-to-toe with the NCAA. He won a $2.5 million settlement stemming from a lawsuit he filed
against the league in 1998, according to The New York Times.
"He made Runnin' Rebel basketball a brand name during his 19 years on campus, inspiring our community and creating a legacy that endures to this day,” UNLV President Len Jessup said in a statement. “He will be deeply missed though fondly remembered as a college basketball icon and as one of the greats in our university's history."
Twitter users remembered the coach.
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