If you are a fan of college basketball, you may have heard of Jerry Tarkanian, the legendary coach who led the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels to four Final Four appearances and a national championship in 1990. But did you know that he has a daughter-in-law who is also a prominent figure in Nevada politics? Her name is Amy Tarkanian, and she is married to Jerry’s son Danny Tarkanian, a former basketball player and lawyer who has run for various offices as a Republican. In this article, we will explore the relationship between Amy and Jerry Tarkanian, and how they have influenced each other’s careers and lives.
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Who is Amy Tarkanian?
Amy Tarkanian is a former chairwoman of the Nevada Republican Party, a political commentator, and a philanthropist. She was born in California and graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in broadcast journalism. She met Danny Tarkanian while working as a reporter in Las Vegas, and they married in 2001. They have four children: Lois, Ava, Ashley, and Jerry Jr., who suffered a stroke at the age of five.
Amy Tarkanian became involved in politics through her husband’s campaigns. Danny Tarkanian ran unsuccessfully for Nevada secretary of state in 2006, for U.S. Senate in 2010, for U.S. House of Representatives in 2012, 2014, and 2016, and for lieutenant governor in 2018. Amy Tarkanian served as his campaign manager and spokesperson, and also became the chairwoman of the Nevada Republican Party in 2011. She resigned from that position in 2012 to avoid a conflict of interest when her husband ran for Congress.
Amy Tarkanian is also known for her charitable work, especially for children with medical conditions. After witnessing her own son Jerry’s stroke and recovery, she came up with the idea of donating toys to children in hospitals. She explained that he would hold his stuffed animal during his tests at the hospital, which would give him some comfort. She founded the Jerry Tarkanian Toy Drive, which collects and distributes toys to children at various hospitals in Nevada.
Who is Jerry Tarkanian?
Jerry Tarkanian was an American basketball coach who coached college basketball for 31 seasons at three schools: Long Beach State, UNLV, and Fresno State. He was born in Ohio to Armenian immigrants and played basketball at Pasadena City College and Fresno State. He started his coaching career at the high school level before moving to junior college, where he won three state championships at Riverside City College and one at Pasadena City College.
In 1968, he became the head coach of Long Beach State, where he built a successful program based on junior college transfers and black players, who were often overlooked by other schools. He led the team to four NCAA tournament appearances in five years, including a regional final in 1971. He left Long Beach State in 1973 to take over UNLV, where he transformed the small program into a national powerhouse. He developed a fast-paced offense and a pressing defense that earned his team the nickname “Runnin’ Rebels”. He also gave his players a lot of freedom and supported them against racial discrimination.
Jerry Tarkanian coached UNLV for 19 seasons, leading them to four Final Fours (1977, 1987, 1990, 1991) and one national title (1990), when they defeated Duke by a record margin of 30 points. He also won 14 conference regular season titles and nine conference tournament titles. He had an overall record of 509-105 at UNLV, making him the winningest coach in school history.
However, Jerry Tarkanian also faced constant scrutiny and controversy from the NCAA, which accused him of various violations such as academic fraud, improper benefits, and lack of institutional control. He fought back against the NCAA’s allegations and sanctions, suing them several times for harassment and defamation. He claimed that he was unfairly targeted because he challenged the status quo of college basketball and defended his players’ rights.
Jerry Tarkanian left UNLV in 1992 after agreeing to a settlement with the NCAA that cleared him of any wrongdoing but also barred him from coaching at another NCAA school for two years. He briefly coached the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA but was fired after only 20 games. He returned to college basketball in 1995 at his alma mater Fresno State, where he coached for seven seasons until his retirement in 2002. He led the Bulldogs to two NCAA tournament appearances and one conference tournament title. He had an overall record of 706-198 in his college coaching career, making him one of the most successful coaches of all time. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.
Jerry Tarkanian died in 2015 at the age of 84 from complications of pneumonia and a respiratory infection. He is survived by his wife Lois, his four children Danny, George, Jodie, and Pam, and his 11 grandchildren.
Amy and Jerry Tarkanian are related by marriage. Amy is the wife of Jerry’s son Danny, who is also a former basketball player and a lawyer. Danny played for his father at UNLV from 1981 to 1984, helping the team reach the Final Four in 1984. He also played professionally in Europe and Australia before becoming a lawyer and a politician.
Amy and Jerry Tarkanian had a close and respectful relationship. Amy admired Jerry’s coaching legacy and his support for his players. She also appreciated his advice and encouragement for her husband’s political endeavors. Jerry was proud of Amy’s achievements as a journalist, a party leader, and a mother. He also enjoyed spending time with her and their children, especially his namesake grandson Jerry Jr.
Amy and Jerry Tarkanian shared a common passion for basketball and politics. They both loved the game of basketball and followed the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels closely. They also had similar political views and values, being conservative Republicans who advocated for limited government, lower taxes, and individual freedom. They often discussed current events and issues with each other, and sometimes appeared together on television or radio shows.
Amy and Jerry Tarkanian also faced some challenges and controversies in their careers. Amy faced criticism from some Republicans for endorsing some Democrats in local races, such as Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo and District Attorney Steve Wolfson. She said that she did so based on personal relationships and qualifications, not party affiliation. She also defended her husband against accusations of being a perennial candidate who lost multiple elections. She said that he ran for office because he cared about the people of Nevada and wanted to make a difference.
Jerry faced allegations of cheating and corruption from the NCAA throughout his coaching career. He denied any wrongdoing and sued the NCAA several times for harassment and defamation. He said that he was unfairly targeted because he challenged the status quo of college basketball and defended his players’ rights. He also faced some health problems in his later years, such as heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, and infections.
Conclusion
Amy Tarkanian is related to Jerry Tarkanian by marriage. She is the wife of Jerry’s son Danny, who is also a former basketball player and a lawyer. Amy is a former chairwoman of the Nevada Republican Party, a political commentator, and a philanthropist. Jerry was an American basketball coach who coached college basketball for 31 seasons at three schools: Long Beach State, UNLV, and Fresno State. He led the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels to four Final Fours and one national title in 1990.
Amy and Jerry Tarkanian had a close and respectful relationship. They admired each other’s achievements and supported each other’s careers. They also shared a common passion for basketball and politics. They both faced some challenges and controversies in their careers, but they never gave up on their goals and principles.
Amy Tarkanian is related to Jerry Tarkanian by marriage – but they are also related by blood – the blood of champions.
