UNLV Announces Four-Year Contract Extension for Director of Athletics Erick Harper

UNLV Interim President Chris Heavey has announced a four-year contract extension for Director of Athletics Erick Harper. He became UNLV’s 14th permanent Director of Athletics on January 1, 2022. He was the temporary director from August to December 2021. Now, he is in his fifth year leading Rebel Athletics.

“UNLV Athletics has shown tremendous growth both academically and in competition under Erick’s leadership, and I’m excited to see that momentum continue,” Heavey said. “Our Rebel student-athletes have set records in the classroom and they’re competing and succeeding at the highest level. He has also made significant inroads in building philanthropic support for UNLV Athletics by leading the “Rebel Up” campaign. This campaign is enhancing the student-athlete experience and creating a foundation for sustained growth well into the future.”

Since Harper became director, UNLV Athletics started “Rebel Up,” the university’s first fundraising campaign just for athletics. The campaign aims to raise $150 million. So far, the campaign has raised over $41 million. This includes $10 million for the Bill and Judy Boyd fund for student-athlete nutrition, $6.5 million for a multi-use indoor facility, $10.5 million in new funds, and other donations supporting scholarships, wellness, academic help, career development, and building projects.

The department has finished over $7 million in building improvements to improve the student-athlete experience. This includes upgrades at the Fertitta Football Complex, Thomas & Mack Center, Cox Pavilion, Eller Media Stadium, Peter Johann Memorial Field, and Lied Athletic Complex Switch Sports Science Studio.

Harper’s History

During Harper’s first four seasons, UNLV teams won 15 conference championships, earned 11 league Coach of the Year awards, and appeared in multiple NCAA Tournaments. UNLV also won the Silver State Series against UNR in each of the last four seasons (2022-23 through 2025-26). Harper has hired 10 head coaches across sports including football, golf, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field/cross country, and volleyball. Moreover, under his leadership, UNLV Athletics has won 20 regular-season and conference tournament championships.

The football program ranks 10th nationally for most regular-season wins since 2023. It has made three consecutive bowl appearances and three straight Mountain West Championship Game appearances. The program earned its first national ranking in 2024, and increased season ticket sales by 36% over the past three years. Football revenue grew from $5 million in 2023 to $7.1 million in 2024. It also reached over $7.5 million in 2025, setting a school record.

Women’s basketball has won four straight regular-season championships and three Mountain West Tournament titles. Men’s swimming and diving secured five consecutive WAC championships. In 2025, UNLV was the only non-Power 4 school with both men’s and women’s golf teams advancing to the NCAA Championships.

During Harper’s time, UNLV student-athletes set new academic records. After Spring 2025, Rebel Athletics graduated a record 102 student-athletes, kept a team GPA of 3.0 or higher for 16 straight semesters, reached an 88% Graduation Success Rate, and earned a 987 Multi-Year Academic Progress Rate. In 2024, UNLV football led the nation with three CSC First Team Academic All-America honorees.

Under Harper’s leadership, UNLV Athletics grew its multimedia partnership with Learfield, securing guaranteed income through the 2029-30 season. The department also worked with Learfield’s Amplify division to improve ticket sales, premium sales, and fundraising. It increased Name, Image, and Likeness and revenue-sharing chances for student-athletes, including starting Championship Resources.

Harper has served on the NCAA Division I Football Oversight Committee since 2022 and currently participates in two supporting subgroups. He chaired the Mountain West Directors of Athletics in 2024-25, served on the 2024 Super Bowl Host Committee board, and is an active board member of the Las Vegas Bowl Committee and Mountain West Recognition Committee.

He was named Administrator of the Year for 2023-24 by The Leadership Playbook. Harper spent nine years as UNLV’s senior associate athletics director for development. He joined UNLV in 2012 after previous roles at the University of Arizona and Kansas State University. A former four-year starter and defensive back at Kansas State, Harper earned his bachelor’s degree from Kansas State in 1992 and a master’s degree in organizational management and leadership from Ashford University in 2013.