August 18, 2009–UNLV has hired Daron Dorsey, a member of the UNLV Men's golf team that won the 1998 National Championship, to be the new assistant coach for the men's golf team. Dorsey is a UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law alumnus and the hiring was announced by head coach Dwaine Knight on Monday. Dorsey was a member of the Rebel golf program as a student-athlete from 1994-98 under Knight. During those years, UNLV won the NCAA Championship in 1998, was NCAA runner-up in 1996, won conference and regional championships and numerous regular-season events against the best fields in college golf. Additionally, the program was consistently ranked at or near the top of every college golf poll during that period.
As a student-athlete, Dorsey excelled in leadership positions on campus as well. He was a member and eventual president of UNLV's Student-Athlete Advisory Board, served as a student ambassador for former UNLV President Dr. Carol Harter and the UNLV Foundation, and was appointed to a CSUN Student Government position on campus. He also served a term as district representative to the NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee that argued legislation from the floor of the 1997 NCAA Convention. Dorsey replaces former Assistant Coach Andy Bischel who is seeking a head coaching position.
In addition, Dorsey was honored in the Rebel Academic Top 30 on multiple occasions, was a conference student-athlete award honoree and received an academic scholarship from the College of Business while playing golf at UNLV.
After receiving his bachelor of science in business administration (marketing) in 1998, Dorsey graduated in the charter class of the William S. Boyd School of Law at UNLV in 2001 and became a licensed attorney in Nevada. Before accepting the position of assistant coach at UNLV, Dorsey practiced law for the past eight years handling commercial litigation, administrative and regulatory compliance, and government relations matters with two well-established Las Vegas law firms – Jolley Urga Wirth Woodbury & Standish and Snell & Wilmer L.L.P.
"Daron is part of the rich tradition and history of UNLV golf," Knight said. "He was part of the group that really built the tradition here and got us to the top of the mountain as a program. That is a great perspective to be coming in from. I feel fortunate to have someone with such a great connection to our successful heritage and, as an active member of our Rebel Golf Foundation, someone also deeply committed to our future. He achieved a lot as a student, as well as an athlete here at UNLV, and will be a great addition to the program as assistant coach."
Dorsey was the first former player appointed to the board of directors of the Rebel Golf Foundation, the foundation that supports the operation of the UNLV men's golf program, and recently served as vice president. He also served on the UNLV Athletics Hall of Fame Board of Directors and was inducted as part of the 1998 men's golf team during the 2008 induction ceremony. Dorsey also recently taught as an adjunct professor during the Spring 2009 semester in the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration at UNLV, teaching hospitality and travel law.
"Coach Knight, this golf program, and this university provided me a platform to graduate from college, attend law school and practice law alongside great lawyers at well-respected law firms," Dorsey said. "I cherish those experiences and relationships from private practice but always maintained a deep-rooted and quiet desire to pursue a career in coaching a collegiate golf team.
"I just never thought I would have the chance to pursue it. When the opportunity arose, I left compelled to take a chance and apply for the position because we usually don't get too many chances to pursue a career in something we love. I appreciate the opportunity from Coach Knight, UNLV, and most importantly, my wife, to allow me to pursue that passion."
Dorsey's wife Jennie is an attorney and shareholder in the Las Vegas law firm of Kemp Jones & Coulthard, and has a 10-year-old daughter, Katie, who is Daron's stepdaughter. Much of this story provide via press release by Andy Grossman, UNLV Sports Information Director.