Maxson’s back as head of private college

Thirteen years ago, Robert Maxson left UNLV and Nevada behind.

Now he's back, this time as president of a private college on the shores of Lake Tahoe.

Sierra Nevada College in Incline Village named Maxson to the top post Friday, wooing him back to the state where he is best known for sparring with then-Rebels basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian.

"I'm feeling very good," said Maxson, 71.

The four-year liberal arts school, founded 40 years ago, is the only private college based in Nevada.

Maxson brings to it a name and reputation from his stint as president of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, from 1984 to 1994.

His tenure at the university was frequently turbulent and riddled with problems with the athletic department, though he has been praised for setting records in fundraising and improving the school's academic reputation.

"I think everybody pretty much credits him with bringing UNLV up in the world," said UNLV history professor Eugene Moehring, who published a book this year on the history of the university. The chapter on Maxson's tenure is dubbed "The rise of UNLV."

The university saw some of its best sports teams flourish -- and flounder -- during his tenure.

With star quarterback Randall Cunningham, UNLV's football team went 7-4 and 11-2 in 1983 and 1984, respectively, only to have the NCAA take away the wins and officially mark the seasons at 0-11 and 0-13 after it found the university had used ineligible players.

That eventually led to Maxson firing the football coach.

In 1990, the UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball team, led by Tarkanian, won the NCAA national championship.

But, dogged by allegations of NCAA violations that eventually led to sanctions against the program, Tarkanian was forced to resign two years later.

Public outcry over the popular coach's resignation eventually forced Maxson out in 1994, Moehring said.

Maxson said he willingly left that year to become president of California State University, Long Beach, because of a "substantial pay raise."

"I enjoyed my 10 years at UNLV," he said. "I didn't go to Long Beach to get away from UNLV."

Last year, Maxson left the Long Beach post to become special assistant to the chancellor of the California State University System, where he mentored other presidents within the system.

Six weeks ago, officials at Sierra Nevada College began courting him for the job, he said.

When he took a tour of the campus, "I was smitten with it," Maxson said.

"It's just a small campus nestled up here on the north shore of Lake Tahoe," he said. "It's right in the huge pine and fir trees. And all the buildings ... look like ski lodges."

He pledged to remain as president for five years after he starts on Feb. 1.

Afterward, he said, he will retire.

Contact reporter Lawrence Mower at lmower@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0440.