Anthony Marshall returning to UNLV basketball as a graduate assistant

UNLV guard Anthony Marshall pounds the court during their Mountain West Conference Tournament championship game against New Mexico Saturday, March 16, 2013 at the Thomas & Mack Center. New Mexico won 63-56. Photo by: Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun

Former UNLV basketball standout Anthony Marshall is returning to the program as a graduate assistant, the university announced this afternoon.

Marshall, a Las Vegas native and graduate of Mojave High School, helped the Rebels reach four straight NCAA Tournaments from 2009-13. (They haven’t been back)

The guard ranks seventh in program history in career assists with 514.

“We are thrilled to have Anthony back at UNLV,” first-year UNLV coach Josh Pastner said in a statement. “It is vital for our program to be connected to its great history, and Anthony embodies the toughness, leadership, and winning mentality that we want to have.”

When Pastner was hired in the spring, he vowed to reconnect with the program’s greats.

He’s delivered with the coaching staff that also includes national champion hero Stacey Augmon as the director of community engagement and former player Justin Hawkins as assistant coach. Hawkins and Marshall were UNLV teammates.

Marshall scored 1,280 career points, and more important, was part of plenty of sold-out games at the Thomas & Mack Center. It’s the type of atmosphere Pastner hopes to bring back.

“As a Las Vegas native who went to four straight NCAA Tournaments, his experience is an invaluable resource for our student-athletes as we continue to build our culture,” Pastner said.

Marshall spent five seasons playing overseas following his UNLV tenure, the university said. He also worked as an individual skills development coach, and in the City of Las Vegas’ recreation department.