Tarkanian back on Hall of Fame ballot

At first, it was all about the four kids and the 11 grandchildren. But as Jerry Tarkanian plays out the final chapter of his amazing life, filling the lone remaining void in his career matters to him more now than it did while he was compiling one of the most impressive resumes in college basketball history.

For the fourth time, Tarkanian's name is on the ballot for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. And at age 82 and with his health in decline, the former UNLV coach would like to make the trip to Springfield, Mass., in September as a member of the Class of 2013.

"I'd pretty much given up on it, but it would be nice recognition of all the players and coaches who were with me," Tarkanian said.

Tarkanian suffered a mild heart attack in March, and coupled with respiratory issues, he was hospitalized for almost a month. He has recovered, but doesn't have much energy and uses a walker.

When he attends UNLV games at the Thomas & Mack Center, he sits among the handicapped behind the basket because it's too difficult to climb the stairs to sit in the stands.

"I hope they recognize him and put him in (the Hall of Fame) while he's alive to enjoy it," said Lois Tarkanian, Jerry's wife of 55 years.

To achieve enshrinement, a candidate goes through a three-step process. The first is getting on the ballot. Tarkanian last was eligible in 2007, and after not getting enough support, he had to sit out five years.

Now that he's back on the ballot, a nine-member panel from the Hall's screening committee made up from its Board of Governors will vote in early January. If seven or more of the nine members approve Tarkanian, he advances to the 24-member honors committee, which will vote in March.

He would need a minimum of 18 votes from the honors committee, whose members are kept secret to avoid outside influence and campaigning on behalf of the candidates. Those selected for induction are announced at the Final Four on Championship Monday. This year's Final Four will be April 6 and 8 in Atlanta.

"I think it's important to Jerry," Lois Tarkanian said. "And it should be. You look at what he's done to help people's lives over the years. He deserves it."

Tarkanian's daughter Jodie Diamant is optimistic about her father's chances.

"If they look at his accomplishments, it's a no-brainer," she said. "I think there's been more attention in the media as to why he's not in, and he's had a lot of support."

Several members of the Hall have supported Tarkanian, including Bob Knight, Jerry West, Oscar Robertson and Dick Vitale. And others who once opposed Tarkanian's induction now favor it.

"I was never comfortable with his relying on the 'everyone does it' defense," said Sports Illustrated college basketball writer Seth Davis, referring to the various transgressions Tarkanian encountered with the NCAA. "But the fact is, enough time has passed, and his coaching credentials are unimpeachable, and he should be in."

Tarkanian has 990 victories in 38 years as a college coach. He was 784-202 in Division I for a .795 winning percentage. But the NCAA adjusted his record and vacated 55 wins and one loss from his time at Fresno State and Long Beach State, so his official record is 729-201 (.784).

He was 509-105 (.829) in 19 seasons at UNLV. He reached the Final Four four times with the Rebels, winning the national championship in 1990.

Lois Tarkanian remains convinced that her husband's battles with the NCAA are the sole reason he's not in the Hall.

"What else can it be?" she said. "It's the perception of the NCAA situation that helps keep him out."

Hall of Fame chairman Jerry Colangelo said while the honors committee has had representation from the NCAA, it doesn't mean there's intent to sway other voters to stifle a candidate's cause for election.

"I can tell you for a fact there's no organized effort to keep anyone out," Colangelo said.

Colangelo said Tarkanian isn't the only college coach who is perceived to have been snubbed by the Hall.

"There are a number of college coaches, three immediately come to mind - Jerry, Lefty Driesell and Eddie Sutton - who people believe should be in," Colangelo said. "All of them have outstanding credentials but for some reason didn't make it all the way through. Sometimes, it takes more than one shot to get in."

Tarkanian hopes his fourth shot is the one that completes his basketball journey.

"It would be nice to be around to celebrate with the family and enjoy it," he said. "It would mean a lot to me."

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.