LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JANUARY 13: Head coach Josh Pastner of the UNLV Rebels speaks during a news conference after his team's 89-85 overtime victory over the Boise State Broncos at the Thomas & Mack Center on January 13, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesFormer Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner has a habit of, lets say, awkward speech. No one doubts his intelligence. He finished at Arizona in 2 1/2 years, despite being a walk-on on the basketball team and having, for all intents and purposes, a part-time coaching job. It takes a tremendous amount of intelligence and discipline to do that. But he does at times say awkward things. At one point, he set up his voicemail with a riff on being positive that lasted at least a minute. On another, he spoke of wanting to live to 120 because he loved college basketball so much. And just within the last few days, Pastner, now at UNLV, said he was looking for an owner for his basketball program. That caused a bit of an uproar, so Pastner had to put out a statement about it, and heres what he said: TheUNLVbasketball program is, in fact, not for sale. Days after Runnin Rebels coach Josh Pastner put a $10-12 million price tag on his squad in widely shared comments to a local TV reporter, he walked back his remarks Monday.I want to clarify my recent comments regarding support for the UNLV mens basketball program. The Runnin Rebels are not for sale, and my reference to an owner was meant to highlight the level of resources, sponsorships, and overall support needed to compete in todays evolving college athletics landscape not to suggest anyone could own the program.Its classic Pastner. Hes a strange mix of Norman Vincent Peale, Bill Walton, and, somewhere in the mix, but further down, Bill Gates. He wants to be a ruthless competitor, but the strange, goofy side of him constantly trips him up. Could UNLV basketball use a donor-owner? Breaking down Josh Pastners commentsUNLV coach Josh Pastner walks back comments looking for owner of Rebels programNo, UNLV basketball isnt for sale. But is the idea really that far-fetched?UNLVs Josh Pastner issues statement about previous owner commentsUNLV basketball program not for sale: Runnin Rebels coach Josh Pastner walks back wild claimGo to the DBR Boardsto find Blue Healer Auctions||Drop us a line