Since we are on the subject of great boxers in Nevada, can you give us some information on my second cousin Jimmy Olivas? There is a small statue of him in the athletic department at UNR.
Jimmy Olivas was a highly respected boxing coach and promoter closely linked to the University of Nevada Reno’s boxing program. His impact on amateur boxing in Nevada, particularly around Reno, was significant.
He was born and grew up in Los Angeles and was a standout schoolboy athlete in boxing and football. Olivas attended University of Nevada (now UNR) on a football scholarship in 1929. While at Nevada, he competed in intercollegiate boxing, going undefeated and winning regional welterweight titles (Pacific Coast and Far Western) in 1930–31.
Olivas was a strong contender for wider competitive success, but a knee injury kept him out of the 1932 Olympic Trials, where he had been considered one of the favorites to qualify.
During the Great Depression, he left school and entered the military, where he began coaching and gaining early leadership experience that later informed his long coaching career.
After his service and a stint promoting professional boxing in Reno (including work as a referee), Olivas became head boxing coach of the Wolf Pack at UNR in 1950, a role he held for 35 years, leading the program through decades of competition and success. During his tenure (roughly 1950–1985), the Wolf Pack boxing squad was one of the nation’s most respected collegiate teams, making Olivas a major figure in Nevada boxing history. Many boxers, including NCAA champions and future Hall of Famers like Mills Lane and Joe Bliss, were developed under his guidance. He also refereed fights in Reno.
He founded and inspired the Jimmy Olivas Athletic Foundation, which to this day supports young athletes, particularly those in boxing, with both athletic and academic opportunities, preserving his legacy. He’s honored in the University of Nevada Athletics Hall of Fame for his contributions to boxing and the school’s athletic heritage.
Jimmy Olivas was inducted into the Nevada Athletics Hall of Fame (Class of 1977) for his work both as an athlete and coach. He died in May 1992 at age 82.
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That Don Guy
Jan-06-2026
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