The Nevada Sagebrush

Ault’s everlasting bond with UNLV

By: Juan López

Tuesday, September 29, 2009 - 12:57 AM

Nevada football head coach Chris Ault, middle, was a defensive backs and wide receivers coach at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas from 1973-74. Ault was inducted into UNLV’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1991 as part of a team which went 12-0 in the regular season. UNLV media relations

It wasn’t long ago that Chris Ault said the color red reminded him of communism, the devil and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

But Ault, the Wolf Pack’s head coach, said he didn’t have a hatred for the school down south — just a slight hostility.

His outward animosity toward the Rebels is surprising considering he was an assistant coach at UNLV from 1973-74.

In addition, he was inducted into the Rebels’ Athletic Hall of Fame in 1991 as a member of the 1974 team, which had a 12-0 regular-season record.

Did Ault attend the ceremonies at the school he loved to hate?

“I didn’t go there,” he said. “I was busy coaching. It was during the season, thank God.”

Ault didn’t show up, but he emphasized that it was due to bad timing and not a hatred for UNLV.

“Let me set this record straight,” Ault said. “When I came out of high school, (the University of Nevada, Reno) wasn’t looking for assistant coaches. UNLV gave me my first shot and I’ve never forgot that and will never forget it. I’m competitive about UNLV, but there’s where I got my start in college coaching. Without that, I might not be in the position I am today.”

While he is somewhat fond of the school that gave him a shot at coaching, he made it clear that his hatred for the color red is because of the lack of a rivalry between the two schools.

“When I came back here (from coaching at UNLV), there was no spirit in terms of playing UNLV,” said Ault, who became Nevada head coach in 1976. “I had been an assistant down there and I felt since (UNR) being the oldest institution in (Nevada), the school that started football, there ought to be more tradition to it. I mean, that should be an automatic thing, but it wasn’t up here. And that was a mission. We started in ’76 and it’s grown to where it is now. It’s a nice rivalry and very competitive and heated.”

So, he’s not standing on the fence when it comes to choosing between the schools, but his appreciation for the Rebels is obvious.

“I have a tremendous respect for UNLV, but I have a tremendous and compassionate competitive attitude towards the game,” he said.

Juan López can be reached at jlopez@nevadasagebrush.com.