Tarkanian Offers to Sit Out Tournament

Jerry Tarkanian of Nevada Las Vegas said he would step down from coaching during the postseason tournament next spring and give up any personal revenue derived from the playoffs if the NCAA reverses itself and allows the Rebels to defend their national title.

Tarkanian said he made the decision July 23, three days after the NCAA handed down its penalty barring the defending national champions from postseason play in 1991.

Tarkanian said school officials wanted to wait to announce the concession until it was presented to the NCAA Infractions Committee but that he decided to disclose the decision because of speculation after an announcement by UNLV Tuesday that the Infractions Committee would reconsider the university’s appeal Oct. 28.

Tarkanian said one issue was non-negotiable: “I’ll never step down from coaching.”