LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Friends and family came together on Wednesday night to remember former UNLV Baseball Coach, Tim Chambers.
Chambers passed away Sunday at the age of 54, but he leaves behind a lasting legacy in the Las Vegas baseball community.
"He cared about us so much, " said Ronnie Burkey, a former player for Chambers.
Burkey remembers the coach as a father figure. The two met 15 years ago at Bishop Gorman High School. Burkey and Chambers would continue to work play together at College of Southern Nevada and University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Burkey says their bond is something he will always cherish.
"We sat down in his living room for two hours, and we sat on the floor and we cried. We talked about life and he told me a couple of things he wanted me to do before he passed on."
Chambers was a source of encouragement for Burkey through difficult times in his life. Burkey says Chambers' one wish for him was to graduate from UNLV, which he did.
"He instilled a lot of toughness with all his players, and he would challenge you and he challenged me in many ways," Burkey said.
As head coach at UNLV, Chambers reached 100 wins faster than any other head coach. Under his direction, 14 players were drafted into Major League Baseball teams. Chambers retired in 2015.
