UNLV athletics fired head coach Marcus Arroyo two days after his football team defeated the UNR Wolf Pack in the Battle for the Fremont Cannon. Arroyo was chosen in 2019 to serve as the Rebels’ 12th head coach. His time with the program was unsuccessful as he guided the Rebels to a 7-23 overall record and a 5-17 mark in Mountain West play.
UNLV Director of Athletics Erick Harper released a statement regarding the firing of Arroyo.
“We thank Marcus Arroyo for his unwavering efforts leading our student-athletes on and off the field for these three seasons,” Harper said. “His program represented this institution in the community and classroom in a manner that is to be commended. However, with our increased expectations at UNLV we felt a change was in order at this time. We all wish Marcus and his family the best in their future endeavors.”
Arroyo’s five-year contract had two more years to run, but Harper says the two parties have agreed to a $2.3 million buyout for the remaining two years.
The Arroyo-led Rebels got off to a 4-1 start in 2022 but lost six of their final seven games of the season to finish 5-7. During Arroyo’s third year at the helm, there was some improvement, but not enough to keep him as head coach moving forward. Likely a major factor in his dismissal was his inability to secure a winning season as his team went on a significant losing streak.
Arroyo did end his tenure as a coach by defeating cross-state rival UNR and taking home the Fremont Cannon. There are rumors that the Rebels might receive a bowl game invitation even at 5-7, but if that is the case, they will turn it down. This makes sense because their primary concern should be hiring a new head coach for the 2023 campaign.
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