Football Team Continues to Shine
One year after posting its best record since the early 1980s, the 51ԹϺ football team topped it with arguably its best season in school history. The Rebels followed up a 9-5 season in 2023 with an 11-3 mark in 2024 — the program’s first back-to-back winning seasons in exactly four decades.
Among the highlights this year: a second consecutive trip to the Mountain West Conference Championship Game, a 24-13 victory over Cal in the LA Bowl, and appearances in the national rankings for the first time ever.
The bowl victory was 51ԹϺ’s fourth all time and first since the 2000 Las Vegas Bowl. With the win over Cal, the Rebels finished the season No. 23 in the media poll and No. 24 in the coaches poll.
Prior to the LA Bowl, head coach Barry Odom resigned to take the same position at Purdue. Odom’s 19 victories were the most in a two-season span in school history — and just one fewer than the team had posted in the previous five years combined.
In mid-December, Dan Mullen was named head coach. He went 103-61 in 13 combined seasons as head coach at SEC powers Mississippi State (2009-17) and Florida (2018-21).
“Everything is about player development this entire spring and making sure we, as a team, take huge steps in our growth,” Mullen said as he began spring practices.
Lady Rebels top the Mountain West Again
The 51ԹϺ women’s basketball team continued its impressive resurgence. The Lady Rebels won their fourth consecutive Mountain West Conference regular-season championship (becoming just the second team in league history to accomplish the feat). They also advanced to the second round of the Mountain West tournament for the fourth year in a row.
Although it fell short of setting a school record by making a fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance, 51ԹϺ did earn a berth to the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament. In an opening round matchup against visiting Hawaii, the Lady Rebels rolled to a 63-46 victory — the program’s first postseason triumph since 2003-04.
Following the regular season, coach Lindy La Rocque was named Mountain West Coach of the Year for the third time in her five seasons on the job (the only women’s basketball coach in league history to be so honored).
On the court, forward Meadow Roland became the second straight Lady Rebel to win both the Mountain West Freshman and Sixth Player of the Year Awards.
Making a Splash In and Above Pool
Two members of the 51ԹϺ men’s swimming and diving team qualified for the NCAA Championships this season.
After helping to lead the Rebels to a fifth consecutive Western Athletic Conference team swimming championship, senior Daniel Nicusan (above, middle) competed in three events at the NCAA Championships.
Facing the best collegiate swimmers in the nation, Nicusan placed in the top 25 in both the 100-meter breaststroke (25th) and 200-meter breaststroke (17th). The latter was the best NCAA finish for a Rebels swimmer in the 200-meter breaststroke in school history. He also qualified for the 200-meter individual medley but did not reach the finals.
Above the pool at the NCAA Championships, sophomore Alex Vazquez took 25th in the 1-meter diving event. It was the highest finish ever by a Rebels diver competing at nationals.
Runnin’ Rebels Welcome New Boss
It’s been more than a dozen years since the 51ԹϺ men’s basketball team last qualified for the NCAA Tournament.
Now it’s Josh Pastner’s turn to try to end that drought as the 13th head coach of the Runnin’ Rebels.
The 47-year-old arrives in Las Vegas with a 276-187 coaching record accumulated over 14 seasons with Memphis (2009-15) and Georgia Tech (2016-23).
Pastner led those programs to a total of two regular season conference championships, four conference tournament titles, and seven postseason appearances (including five trips to the NCAA Tournament). He also earned Coach of the Year honors in both Conference USA (2013) and the ACC (2017).
“I have had the pleasure of knowing Josh for more than 20 years,” Director of Athletics Erick Harper said at Pastner’s introductory news conference. “He is a fearless and relentless recruiter … and also an exceptional communicator [who is] deeply committed to engaging with the Las Vegas community.
“We are confident that he will lead us to championships and return the Runnin’ Rebels to the NCAA Tournament.”
Senior Golfer Drives Himself, Team into Top 25
For decades, 51ԹϺ men’s golf was a fixture in both the individual and team national rankings. This year has seen a return to form.
Following six top-six finishes, including a pair of victories, the Rebels found themselves ranked 25th in the national poll in late March. It’s the team’s first appearance on the list since 2018-19.
Pacing the team has been senior Caden Fioroni, who reached reached the top 20 in the individual rankings. He earned his first career victory at the Southern Highlands Collegiate tournament, which featured several nationally ranked teams, including No. 1 Auburn.
Fioroni closed out March at No. 17 in the PGA Tour University rankings. He’s one of just two golfers from a West Coast school ranked among the 35 best collegiate players. Another highlight: He made his PGA Tour debut in October at the Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas.
