Page 52 - LVGL Summer 2021

UNLV

MARCUS ARROYO

UNLV’S HEAD FOOTBALL COACH SHARES HIS TAKE ON REBEL FOOTBALL,
THE MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE, ALLEGIANT STADIUM,
AND LIVING IN LAS VEGAS

By Heidi Chackel
n December of 2019, UNLV Football named a new head I have pretty high energy all the time. I don’t get too high on
coach—Marcus Arroyo. This was literally days after the highs or too low on the lows. Everyone is looking at you
Arroyo helped lead the University of Oregon Ducks to and your response is going to be reciprocated throughout
a Pac-12 Conference Championship. For the three years the building, throughout the tone of the game, or whatever
I prior, Arroyo was the offensive coordinator and quar- it may be. Also the perspective of what I have been around
terbacks coach for the Ducks, and was the assistant head and lived through outside of football has helped me. I have
coach coming into the 2019 season. A quarterback himself, been through a lot. Making sure everyone understands
Arroyo played for San Jose State University from 1998 to that it can always be worse. There are always other things
2002. He has since enjoyed climbing the ranks of college out there. Not let our egos get in the way, celebrate each
football, culminating in his first head coach position with other. That plays into how our culture is run. And setting
the Rebels. Along the way he learned from the best, many really good standards, attitudes, behaviors, and habits—and
of whom he credits in this interview. Arroyo is touted as an committing to that. It is hard to set certain standards and
incredible recruiter, and has already lived up to that repu- behaviors, especially in a place you have never been before.
tation, even during a pandemic. He is looking forward with But the more you do it, the more you explain it, build pic-
eagerness to his first true year with his Rebels, one that will tures for young men or even coaches. You set that standard
hopefully have no pandemic shutdowns or limitations. He’s and you don’t deviate. That in itself really starts to hit home.
thrilled to have not only the new Fertitta Football Complex,
but also the magnificent Allegiant Stadium as their home. : You’ve had quite the journey working with some leg-
Qendary coaches including Dick Tomey, Lovie Smith,
Arroyo’s enthusiasm and optimism were palpable as we and the Oregon Ducks with Mario Cristobal. Has any one
talked, and his words reflect those bright outlooks. coach really impacted your growth as a coach over the
years? Any one coach you really loved working for or pro-
: We have heard about the energy you’ve brought and gram that molded your style?
Qyour fire as a coach, that all your coaches have for
that matter. There’s an excitement in the building. Was it rroyo: I think everyone. I think they all have had
difficult and is it still hard to get the culture you want? How Aan impact. I go all the way back to growing up near
hard is it to change a culture to the direction you want? Rocklin, California where the 49ers had their training
camp. That is back when Bill Walsh (he was the 49ers coach
rroyo: It is difficult, but something you have to go out in that era) and all those guys were there, and we had a
Athere and do every day. It is part of who you are. Over chance as young kids to go down and see those guys often.
the course of my career, and I am bumping on 20 years of You mentioned a few names, and I won’t be able to mention
coaching now, the thing that stood out as the most impor- all of them here since there are just too many. Coach Tomey
tant part of this role I now have is to be yourself. I remember as you mentioned was a huge influence on me. Coach [Jeff]
Chris Petersen and David Shaw, guys that I had a chance Tedford is another one at Cal, with the success he has had in
to coach against and grow up watching and to be around, football let alone the position of quarterback, which is really
they have that message. I reached back to them again dur- where I have probably made the most hay. But I think I have
ing the pandemic, reiterating the importance of just being taken something from all of those guys. To be around Jeff
yourself. I am one of those eternal optimists in a lot of ways. Tedford, Todd Monken, Mike Gundy, and Dirk Koetter. Even

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