New UNLV athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois made her first major hire Tuesday, announcing John Gladchuk will be the senior associate AD in charge of external affairs.

Desiree Reed-Francois received welcome financial news for the UNLV athletic department before even taking over as its director.

Here’s what they are saying about new UNLV athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois:
Whit Babcock, Virginia Tech athletic director:
“Desiree did an outstanding job at Virginia Tech. She made us better in so many ways and she will be missed. However, I am extremely happy and excited for her, Josh and Jackson to have such a wonderful opportunity at UNLV. It’s a great fit all around. Desiree is ready and prepared to be an elite athletic director. I am very confident the department and program will grow and prosper under her direction and vision.”

UNLV will introduce new athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Thomas & Mack Center.

UNLV announced today the hiring of Desiree Reed-Francois as its new athletic director.

According to a source, Desiree Reed-Francois has signed a contract to become UNLV's next athletic director. UNLV plans to formally introduce Reed-Francois at a Tuesday afternoon press conference.

UNLV’s search for a new athletic director could be drawing to a close. According to two sources, Virginia Tech Deputy AD Desiree Reed-Francois has emerged as the leading candidate, though no deal has been finalized.

Desiree Reed-Francois has been hired as athletics director for UNLV, the school announced Monday. Reed-Francois is the current deputy athletics director at Virginia Tech and will take over in Las Vegas on June 1.

Rita Tilton has been hospitalized since February and understandably not in a good spirits. She wants to get home to her rescue dog, Tinker Bell, and return to the Cox Pavilion to watch her beloved Lady Rebels.

UNLV lost the first Battle for Nevada to UNR in 1969, but the first coat of paint on the prized Fremont Cannon was red. That’s because the cannon — awarded to the winner of the annual rivalry game, aka the Battle for the Fremont Cannon, who paints it either red or blue — wasn’t built until 1970, when the Rebels prevailed 42-30 in the first of eight wins in the next 11 meetings between the state’s only two football-playing universities.

UNLV will retire Eddie Owens’ No. 11 jersey at halftime of its basketball game against UC Riverside at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Marvin Menzies knew it would take some time to know what type of team he had at UNLV. He was new, the system was new and so were most of the players. The timeframe has been extended by a series of injuries before the season even started.