UPDATE (Feb. 14):   Fresno memorial service for Coach Tarkanian being planned 

UPDATE (Feb. 12): Tarkanians request donations go to Armenian Studies

Fresno State’s national and state flags will fly at half-staff in memory of Coach Jerry Tarkanian on Monday (Feb. 16). The private funeral service for Coach Tarkanian will be held the same day in Las Vegas.

Coach Tarkanian died Wednesday (Feb. 11) in Las Vegas at the age of 84.

President Joseph I Castro, who with wife Mary will attend the service for family and close friends only, issued the directive that the flags be lowered in honor of the alumnus who played for the Bulldogs’ men’s basketball team from 1954-55 and later returned home to lead his alma mater’s team from 1995-2002.

He also coached the University of Nevada Las Vegas Running Rebels, leading them to four NCAA Final Four appearances and one national title. Tarkanian, whose passing was reported widely throughout the nation, was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.

Tarkanian and his wife Lois were supporters of the Fresno State Madden Library, donating $100,000 to start the Tarkanian Book Fund and initiating the companion “Baskets for Books” program to fund it.

Other Fresno State plans to honor Coach Tarkanian include:

  • Moment of silence at Saturday’s men’s basketball game versus Boise State and video tribute at halftime (also observed at the Feb. 11 women’s basketball game versus UNLV).
  • At Saturday’s game, fans will have the opportunity to sign cards by Coach Tarkanian’s legacy display on the northwest concourse for the Tarkanian family.
  • Bulldogs’ head coach Rodney Terry will leave an empty seat on the bench at the game by press row with a white towel similar to one Coach Tarkanian used at all of his games.
  • The Fresno State men’s basketball team will add a “Tark” patch to its jerseys starting Saturday.
  • The marquees at Cedar/Barstow and the Save Mart Center (Shaw/Chestnut) are displaying graphics honoring Coach Tarkanian.

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