UNLV Runnin' Rebels Head Coach Josh Pastner: 'I'm Just An Accessible Guy'

Coach Josh Pastner on Accessibility and Community Building

UNLV Runnin' Rebels men's head basketball coach Josh Pastner has launched his weekly radio show, discussing various topics related to his program and community engagement.

Building a Community Culture

Recently, he emphasized his accessibility and the importance of fostering a strong culture in Las Vegas. Pastner stated:

“I’ve been everywhere you can imagine. I really haven’t said no to anything. I want to get the vision out to as many people as we can because we have to get the people back to the Thomas & Mack. Everyone is like, ‘You win and they’ll come back.’ But what came first, the chicken or the egg?”

Open Communication

He highlighted his openness to communication:

“I’m just an accessible guy. Look, I give my email to everyone. And I tell people, ‘E-mail me. If you have thoughts, ideas, suggestions. You want to ask why we played zone defense on that one possession or why we called that play out of the timeout. This is your program and I want you to be emotionally invested in your team. You can reach out to me and I want to be as transparent as possible.’”

Focus on Revival

Pastner stressed the importance of understanding the program’s history and working to restore its reputation:

“They understand what this program is about, what it has been about and how to get it back there. I think that’s a critical deal as we move forward. I’m not just trying to say things to blow hot air. It’s a 24/7 obsession of mine to get the program back to where people want it to be, and that’s all I’m thinking of.”
About Las Vegas

He describes the city as a “normal, blue-collar, hard-working town.”

Author's summary: Josh Pastner strives for transparency and community involvement, aiming to rebuild the UNLV basketball program and connect with fans through openness and dedication.

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Sports Illustrated Sports Illustrated — 2025-11-04

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