LAS VEGAS, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- A bronze statue of retired basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian on the University of Nevada at Las Vegas campus is "beautiful," Tarkanian said at the unveiling.
The statue depicts Tarkanian, 83, twice as large as life, in a familiar pose, seated on a folding chair while nervously chewing on a towel. It was a posture seen by UNLV fans when he coached the team from 1973 to 1992 -- leading the Runnin' Rebels to four appearances in the NCAA men's tournament Final Fours and a national title in 1990.
Tarkanian -- whose nickname was "Tark the Shark" -- resigned at UNLV coach after the 1991-92 season, following allegations some of his players had fraternized with a well known gambler.
He was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.
The Hall of Fame's official sculptor, Brian Hanlon, made the statue, which was installed Wednesday in front of UNLV's basketball arena, the Thomas and Mack Center, the Las Vegas Sun reported.
"This beautiful statue is a lasting tribute not only to me but all my players and coaches," Tarkanian said at the unveiling ceremony. "I never dreamed something like this would happen. I'm deeply grateful."
