Fomer UNLV coach at Rotary

The Arcadia Rotary Club was proud to welcome former University of Nevada Las Vegas football coach and long-time Arcadia resident Harvey Hyde as their keynote speaker earlier this month. 

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Arcadia Rotary Welcomes Former UNLV Football Coach by Anne Donofrio-Holter – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Passionate about football, following graduation from the University of Redlands, Hyde began his coaching career at Riverside’s Norte Vista High School.  He then went on to become assistant football coach at Pasadena City College, taking a team to the Junior Rose Bowl.  Hyde’s love of the game led him next to the University of Hawaii where he served as defensive coordinator for two years.  He then returned to Pasadena City College as head coach where he remained until 1981, winning four national championships. His next stop was the University of Nevada Las Vegas for four years, coaching the team to victory in its first Division One bowl game.

“When the university had a change in administration, I was let go along with the school’s basketball coach. I had to decide what to do next and chose to go into broadcasting,” said Hyde. “Today, it would seem odd not to have a former coach on a sports program, but it was not always that way.”

Hyde decided to start his own production company in 1985 and went on to do sports radio for KSHP radio 1400 in Las Vegas.  He also joined the USC football pregame show team for ESPN radio 710 in Los Angeles.  He hosts Sunday morning’s LA Trojan Brunch from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on ESPN radio and is doing a podcast for uscfootball.com year round.

Hyde shared his thoughts on amateur athletics with the Rotarians explaining a college coach has an extended family of close to 120 people. “The kids are in the spotlight.  If someone gets in trouble, it’s big news,” he said, adding “while it may be referred to as amateur, it’s a business.”  He also stressed the funds needed to run college athletic programs need to be raised and “you have to win.” “College athletics give kids an opportunity to see new places and do things they never could have imagined,” he said, adding that not everyone going to college needs to be a doctor or a lawyer.  “We need to consider vocational classes.  Plumbers and other tradesmen make good money and we need their services.” Hyde was adamant that student athletes should not be paid, but should be allowed to take out loans. “Harvey is an amazing individual!  You can see why he was such a good coach!  So full of energy that I never wanted him to stop talking!” said Eric Barter, Arcadia Rotary Club president-elect.  “Speakers such as Harvey is one of the reasons it’s great to be a member of the Arcadia Rotary Club.”