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Mark Wallington – UNLV, Senior Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

CoSIDA 25-Year Award

by W.G. Ramirez, Nevada-based sports writer

Mark Wallington had no plans of building a life in Las Vegas.

Growing up in Michigan adoring MSU basketball, then falling in love with college football while attending the University of Florida, Wallington figured he would serve a nine-month post-graduate internship at UNLV before returning to the Sunshine State to pursue a career in journalism.

Roughly 27 years and more the 30 CoSIDA awards later, Wallington is proud to call Las Vegas home.

“I fell in love with the city," Wallington said. "Vegas gets in your blood.”

The senior assistant athletics director for communications celebrated his 25th anniversary as a full-time UNLV employee last year. But ask any sports power broker in Southern Nevada, and they'll tell you Wallington is much more than a mouthpiece for the athletics department.

“He's an institution over there," said Don Logan, president of the Las Vegas Aviators Triple-A baseball club. "He's a Power 5 SID all the way. Always has been.”
 

LOYALTY
When Wallington arrived on campus at UNLV as an intern, his direct boss was Tommy Sheppard, now the general manager of the NBA's Washington Wizards.

The two bonded immediately, so much so that when Sheppard took road trips with the Runnin' Rebels, Wallington would look after his boss' new bride, who was expecting a child.

“He became part of my family," Sheppard said. "By far his greatest quality, he's one of the most loyal people you'll ever meet.”

And loyalty is something UNLV football has needed from at least one constant during his tenure, considering he's seen the Rebels produce just three winning seasons since 1993. His streak of working 316 UNLV games includes just three bowl appearances.

But every August his optimism peaks for his Rebels.

“When we start out on our season preview, Mark is like 'this is the year the Rebels are going to a bowl,'" said Las Vegas Bowl Executive Director John Saccenti. "He's as passionate and die hard about Rebel football as anybody.”

But to Wallington, UNLV is more than football. It's about pride in the community long before pro sports arrived. It's about the Olympic sports he helped promote. And it's about the men’s and women’s tennis programs he's watched produce a combined 14 Mountain West championships, as well as national champion singles and doubles players.

“I've got a drawer full of rings, but they're primarily tennis rings -- I'm very proud of their success," said Wallington, who also served as media relations director for UNLV's women’s track and field program and nationally renowned men’s golf program in the 1990s. "That's part of what makes college athletics special as compared to professional -- the opportunity to make a path for their future. And it's what makes my job great.”
 
MAKING MEMORIES
Shortly after accepting a full-time position at UNLV, the memories began.

He met his wife, Wendy, who also worked in the athletics department. They now have two daughters, Tessa and Tally, both of whom Wallington is proud to call the biggest Rebel fans in Southern Nevada.

And the Wallingtons have stretched the UNLV fabric they're a part of, by becoming beloved members of the community.

Former UNLV football head coach Jeff Horton's first year with the Rebels was also Wallington's first year as the full-time SID for the program.

“He always kept me balanced," said Horton, now an assistant coach at San Diego State. "You always knew what you were getting with Mark. He was always steady. A very dry sense of humor that to me was really funny. He was the guy you knew you could always count on. He was on top of his game. I always kidded (that) I wish we were as prepared as he was because we probably would have been undefeated every year.”

It was Horton's first season that was most memorable for both.

After being handpicked to replace Chris Ault at the University of Nevada, Reno, Horton left after one season and headed south to take over at UNLV. And, of course, the prize for Wallington in Horton's first campaign was a season-ending home game against the Wolf Pack with the Big West title on the line.

Few gave the Rebels a chance to pull the upset but the Rebels won the game, a share of the Big West title, and eventually the Las Vegas Bowl.

“To win that game as a heavy underdog, to defeat your rival, knock them out of a bowl game, go to a bowl game for the first time in 10 years and win a co-conference championship - all in one Saturday afternoon at Sam Boyd Stadium," Wallington said, "that was the most exciting game of my career -- so far.”

THE FUTURE
Long before he began covering the Raiders in the Bay Area, UNLV journalism grad and current ESPN.com reporter Paul Gutierrez remembers when Wallington arrived on campus. Gutierrez, a longtime UNLV basketball fan, knew more about Rebel athletics than Wallington at the time.

However, Gutierrez said, it didn't take long for Wallington to become a go-to guy for media members and someone he could count on while writing for the student newspaper.

“He's a great facilitator between the media and the program he's responsible for," Gutierrez said. "He's like an offensive lineman in a football game. You don't really hear about an offensive lineman unless he's screwing up, right? With Wallington, you never hear from him because he's always just steadily doing his work. He does his job and you don't really hear about him because he's always doing his job.”

For that, Gutierrez is thankful Wallington is still somebody he can rely on. Like last month, when Gutierrez needed to speak to former Rebel Javin White, who was signed by the Raiders after going undrafted.

"Whether I need a media guide, an interview, a photo -- whatever it is -- I know that I will get it in short order," Gutierrez said. "He's been the same guy all along, and to me, that's the epitome of a pro in that job.

“He's a pro's pro.”

Wallington is looking forward to UNLV's move to Allegiant Stadium under new coach Marcus Arroyo, not to mention the team's first full season inside its new, state-of-the-art, on-campus football facility.

"It's amazing thinking back to when I started to now, and the opportunity that UNLV football currently has to take that next step," Wallington said. "I'm very excited. I keep telling people there's never been a school that's been blessed to have two world-class facilities like this come online in the same year.

"I think UNLV is ready to join in that national conversation, along with the Golden Knights and the Las Vegas Raiders. What was once a Runnin' Rebels’ town full of people who loved their college basketball program, has turned into a sports hub. And now the Rebels are going to earn their place along with the amazing things that are happening here.”

Amazing, like the man who has been loyal to UNLV athletics for more than 25 years.

"I've seen the highs and lows here.” Logan said. "As you look at UNLV and then you think about the constant. What are the pillars of that place?

“Mark is one of the pillars of UNLV Athletics.”