Following LSU’s SEC Championship win against Georgia, reports began to link the No. 1 Tigers' defensive coordinator Dave Aranda to the head coaching position at UNLV.
Aranda said Tuesday morning that he did have “preliminary” talks with Rebels but said it was nothing more than that.
“I think any time that you're presented with an opportunity, I think you -- for you and for your family, you want to be able to look into it,” he said. “I think they're just preliminary talks. And it was nothing more than that. I feel like that program is in a great situation. I think the AD there and the people associated there are going to be on a great track. I wish them well.”
UNLV is coming off a 4-8 season, but is set to play in a new stadium and has upgraded its facilities in recent years.
Aranda has spent the past four seasons as the Tigers' defensive coordinator and in that time boosted LSU's reputation as one of the top defenses in college football.
He is one of the highest paid assistant coaches in country earning roughly $2.5 million per season following the contract he agreed to prior to the 2018 season.