Oral history interview with George Tarkanian conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on May 27, 2025 for the Game On! An Oral History of Las Vegas Sports project. In this interview, Tarkanian first describes his childhood in Southern California, the youngest of four children to Lois and Jerry Tarkanian. In the fourth grade, he relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada with his family so his father, Jerry Tarkanian, could begin his career at UNLV coaching the Runnin' Rebels basketball team. He remembers having a hard time adjusting to the desert, but soon making friends playing basketball at Bishop Gorman High School, and first attending UNLV then Mt. San Antonio College. He recalls assisting his father off the court, and remembers all the work his father did to help mentor players. Tarkanian also talks about when his father was nearly recruited by the Lakers in 1977 and 1979, but later turned the offer down due to the tragic loss of his friend and agent, Vic Weiss.

Tarkanian then describes his own career, as both a political science professor and a basketball coach. He started coaching at JP Catholic University in 1983, and moved to different colleges in California to continue teaching and coaching. Eventually he began working at College of the Sequoias when he received an offer to come to College of Southern Nevada (CSN) and help start the men’s basketball program. Unsure of whether he should take the leap of faith, he secured a contract as both a political science professor and basketball coach and he decided to take the opportunity. After dealing with back-to-back losses on the team, he decided to help his brother Danny create the Tarkanian Basketball Academy. He continued both teaching and coaching at CSN, but eventually decided to focus on being a professor. Digital audio available; no transcript available.