When UNLV hired its replacement for former men’s basketball coach Marvin Menzies this past spring, the decision took less than 14 days. While it has been 18 days since UNLV announced it was parting ways with coach Tony Sanchez, it appears a decision has been made. According to multiple reports, UNLV will be hiring Oregon offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo as the 12th head coach in Rebels history.
While the university has not officially announced the move, multiple credible sources — including the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Mark Anderson — have confirmed Arroyo as UNLV’s choice and that the two sides are working out the final details of a contract that is expected to make him one of the highest paid coaches in the Mountain West Conference.
The 39-year old is finishing his third season with No. 7 Oregon as its assistant head coach and quarterback coach and is coming off a dominating performance against Utah Friday to win the Pac-12 championship. The Ducks are slated to compete in the Rose Bowl against No. 11 Wisconsin on New Year’s Day.
“He’s smart. Very smart,” Oregon head coach Willie Taggart said about Arroyo. “Very articulate. He does a great job with the players. He’s very energetic. That’s everyday…Got that juice everyday. He’s a team player. All about the team.”
It is unclear if Arroyo will finish the season with Oregon, if this hire is consummated prior to the Rose Bowl.
Arroyo, 39, is in his third season at Oregon and also is the assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach. He is well known as an above average recruiter and someone who connects with his player. His recruiting chops were on display last week when the seventh-ranked Ducks won the Pac-12 Conference championship with a 37-15 rout of Utah on Friday, and they will play No. 11 Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl. The Ducks average 35.9 points a game this season, and quarterback Justin Herbert has completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 3,333 yards with 32 touchdowns and just five interceptions.
A former Tampa Bay Buccaneers assistant, Arroyo has deep ties to the Mountain West after playing quarterback at San Jose State from 1998 to 2002 before becoming the quarterbacks coach for the Spartans from 2006 to 2008. He was also Wyoming’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for a pair of seasons.
The move had social media ablaze, some with excitement and some with a bit of trepidation.
Arroyo is a phenomenal recruiter. Great at finding hidden talent. He is very adaptive as well. Cristobal wanted him to play a power spread offense. When Arroyo called plays his way, we played fast and looked great. His team is 11-2 and #6 overall. UNLV will be in good hands.
— Mehdi (@Ripcity92) December 10, 2019
As much as I hate seeing Chris Ault’s pistol formation coming to UNLV, UNLV could have done far worse. Oregon has the best O line in the Pac, and a top 3 QB for this draft. Arroyo recruited Herbert’s replacement, and is no stranger to our recruiting area. Give him a chance.
— Michael Matsumoto (@UNLV_Moto) December 10, 2019
If the PAC-12 championship game is the final evaluation between Oregon offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo and Utah defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley for the @unlvfootball job, Arroyo is the big winner so far. Of the two, he’d be my choice no matter the result of the game.
— Steven Goode (@UNLVRebelFan_1) December 7, 2019
Definitely becoming more of a fan of Arroyo though after reading up on him. It’d be nice to have someone who’s been around the conference before. I think he will help Oblad develop well based on his history. #UNLVFB
— Tye Harp (@UNLVTye) December 9, 2019
Arroyo is AHC as well as OC for a top 10 Oregon team. Took a group that in 2016 went 4-8 and helped guide them to a 11-2 record. Great hire by UNLV!
— Mehdi (@Ripcity92) December 9, 2019
Remember when Sanford was the "next best thing" of highly regarded assistant coaches from high scoring nationally relevant teams…
— The_Masked_Rebel (@Masked_Rebel) December 9, 2019
The rumor is Oregon's Offensive Coordinator Marcus Arroyo will become UNLV Football’s new Head Coach. I will never understand UNLV’s admin team. Why go with the same formula that favors the five year cycle? Wash, rinse, and repeat. #UsNowLV #BeARebel #UNLV pic.twitter.com/AVTB8MJ1qb
— Andrew Carrillo (@AndrewCarrillo0) December 10, 2019
Arroyo is awful. The streak of terrible hires continues at UNLV
— Jeff Baker (@thejeffbaker) December 10, 2019
After five years of Sanchez, his team’s lack of defense and just 20 wins in five seasons), Marcus Arroyo will be bringing Pac-12 pedigree as well as NFL ties as the team moves into its $2 billion home the Rebels will be sharing with the Las Vegas Raiders. Arroyo will also be selling recruits on the program’s brand new $35 million practice facility.
With the early signing period beginning Dec. 18-20, Marcus Arroyo might be coming on board just in time to sway some of his verbal commits to change course and join him at UNLV. Currently, UNLV has 10 players committed for what 247Sports ranks as the Mountain West’s No. 3 class but the Rebels already have potentially lost Jeminai Leuta-Ulu, a guard from Anaheim, California, who reopened his recruiting after UNLV fired coach Tony Sanchez, according to the Anderson at the Review-Journal.
When he takes the helm, Arroyo will be joining a program that boasts just three winning seasons over the last 27 years and just four bowl games in the program’s 52 seasons.
Needless to say, it’ll be the biggest test of Arroyo’s career.
No press conference had been scheduled as of the time this story was published, as the two sides hammer out the contract, which also would include pay for his coaching staff. No word on what kind of staff Marcus Arroyo would bring, but one can imagine he has a few names in mind.
Stay tuned to Sin City SM as this breaking story continues to unfold.
