Courtesy of UNLV
LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) — UNLV Director of Athletics Erick Harper announced Sunday afternoon that wide receivers coach Del Alexander has been named interim head coach of the Rebel football program.
“Del Alexander will lead our team starting immediately as we prepare to play in the Art of Sport LA Bowl Hosted By Gronk on December 18,” said Harper. “Del has a long history with successful football programs on a national level and we have full confidence that he is the right person to lead the Rebels into what promises to be an exciting big-time bowl game in Los Angeles against Cal.”
Alexander returned to the UNLV campus in 2023 and his position group enjoyed immediate record-smashing success.
A familiar name to longtime Rebel fans, Alexander was a member of two previous UNLV staffs before going on to coach two decades in the Big Ten, Pac-12 and ACC, as well as Notre Dame. In total, he has coached in 18 bowl games, including four trips to the Rose Bowl and two College Football Playoff berths.
After last season, Alexander was named the Matrix Analytical Third Team All-America Wide Receiver Coach. His group’s efforts were highlighted by All-American Ricky White III who broke a 42-year-old single-season school record with 1,483 yards, which ranked third in college football. White was the first Rebel receiver to earn AP All-America honors since 1981 but was just one of 17 different UNLV players to catch at least one pass on the year for an offense that posted more third-down conversions than any team in the nation with 101 and finished 22nd in the country in scoring with 34.4 points per game
Alexander returned to Las Vegas after coaching the receivers at Georgia Tech in 2022. Previous to that he spent five seasons as wide receivers coach at Notre Dame (2017-21), helping the Fighting Irish to a bowl game every year, including a pair of CFP appearances. While in South Bend, four wideouts under his tutelage were selected in the NFL Draft, including second-round pick Chase Claypool (2020) and third-round selection Miles Boykin (2019).
Prior to Notre Dame, Alexander spent five years at Arizona State (2012-16), including four seasons as passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach and one season as tight ends coach. During his stint in Tempe, the Sun Devils made three bowl games and had two NFL Draft picks, including third-round selection Jaelen Strong (2015).
Before joining the staff at ASU, Alexander coached wide receivers for five seasons at Wisconsin (2007-11), helping guide the Badgers to two Big Ten Championships and five bowl appearances (including back-to-back Rose Bowls in 2010-11). Wisconsin’s offense rewrote the program’s record book with Alexander on staff, passing for a school-record 3,280 yards in 2011.
Alexander’s career also included stops as running backs coach/assistant special teams coordinator at San Diego (2005-06) and recruiting coordinator/ wide receivers at Oregon State (2003-04).
His first UNLV stint came in 1998 under head coach Jeff Horton before leaving for one season as a senior offensive assistant for running backs in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers. Alexander returned to Las Vegas under Hall of Fame coach John Robinson as passing game coordinator/wide receivers/quarterbacks (2000-01) and wide receivers/quarterbacks (2002) for the Rebels.
He began his career at USC as an assistant video coordinator (1995) before coaching tight ends as a graduate assistant (1996-97).
Alexander played wide receiver for one season at West Los Angeles College in 1992 before finishing his career at USC (1993-94). Him and his wife, Star, have three sons: JD, Jalen and Drew. JD Alexander lettered for the Rebels as a linebacker and a special teams performer in 2018-19.
DEL ALEXANDER’S COACHING FILE
2024 UNLV – Interim Head Coach
2023-24 UNLV – Wide Receivers
2022 Georgia Tech – Wide Receivers
2017-21 Notre Dame — Wide Receivers
2016 Arizona State — Tight Ends
2012-15 Arizona State — Passing Game Coordinator, Wide Receivers
2007-11 Wisconsin — Wide Receivers
2005-06 San Diego — Running Backs, Assistant Special Teams Coordinator
2003-04 Oregon State — Wide Receivers, Recruiting Coordinator
2002 UNLV — Wide Receivers, Quarterbacks
2000-01 UNLV — Passing Game Coordinator, Wide Receivers, Quarterbacks
1999 San Diego Chargers (NFL) — Senior Offensive Assistant, Running Backs
1998 UNLV — Wide Receivers
1996-97 Southern California — Graduate Assistant
1995 Southern California — Assistant Video Coordinator
