UNLV Extends Bobby Hauck's Contract

CBS Sports reports that UNLV has extended head football coach Bobby Hauck's contract.  UNLV is one of those teams that does not get a lot of ink nationally, and one team that I have not seen play this season, but here is a look statistically as the Rebel's using the Complex Invasion College Football Production Model, during head coach Hauck's tenure at UNLV.  Below is a chart of the team's production and then after that some more details of the football program.

As you can see in the chart below UNLV has made some significant strides this season under head football coach Hauck.  Hauck has turned one of the worst team's in the Football Bowl Subdivision into an average team this season to date.  To head football coach Hauck's credit, UNLV has improved on both sides of the ball in recent years, leading to an increase in overall production.  Frankly, this is a team that I will keep my eye on over the next few seasons to see how the Rebels progress given Hauck's contract extension.  Seems like a good bet that UNLV's future is on a positive track.

2013
UNLV's football team has finished the regular season at 7-5 and are bowl eligible and playing in the Heart of Dallas Bowl.  The Rebels best victory (victory over the highest ranked team in the NCAA FBS Production Model) was over #87 ranked San Diego State at the end of the season.  That means all of UNLV's victories were against teams in the bottom 30% of the teams in the FBS.  In terms of losses, the Rebels worst loss was to currently ranked #75 San Jose State.  Additionally, the Rebels have played against an "easier" strength of schedule (meaning that UNLV's SOS was between one and two standard deviations higher than the "leagues" average SOS).  In terms of overall production, the Rebels were the #68 most productive team overall with the #61 ranked offense and the #77 ranked defense. All-in-all a team that is very close to average among all FBS football programs.

2012
In Hauck's third season as head football coach, UNLV's football team has finished the regular season again with only two victories at 2-11.  The Rebels best victory (victory over the highest ranked team in the NCAA FBS Production Model) was over #81 ranked Air Force and their worst loss was to FCS Northern Arizona.  The Rebels played against an "average" strength of schedule (meaning that UNLV's SOS was within one standard deviation of the "leagues" average SOS).  In terms of overall production, the Rebels were the #109 most productive team overall (out of  124) with the #98 ranked offense and the #100 ranked defense. While the number of victories did not change from the first season, the team's rank in terms of overall production, offense and defense improved.

2011
In Hauck's second season as head football coach, UNLV's football team has finished the regular season at 2-10.  The Rebels best victory (victory over the highest ranked team in the NCAA FBS Production Model) was over #63 ranked Hawaii and their worst loss was to FCS Southern Utah.  The Rebels played against an "average" strength of schedule.  In terms of overall production, the Rebels were the #117 most productive team overall (out of  120) with the #114 ranked offense and the #110 ranked defense. While the team as a whole had a lower rank in terms of overall production, they were higher ranked on both offense (barely) and on defense.

2010
In Hauck's first season as head football coach, UNLV's football team has finished the regular season at 2-11.  The Rebels best victory (victory over the highest ranked team in the NCAA FBS Production Model) was over #101 ranked Wyoming and their worst loss was to #115 ranked Colorado State.  The Rebels played against a "tougher" strength of schedule (meaning that UNLV's SOS was between one and two standard deviations lower than the "leagues" average SOS).  In terms of overall production, the Rebels were the #116 most productive team overall (out of  120) with the #115 ranked offense and the #117 ranked defense. All-in-all a team that is very close to the worst among all FBS football programs.