How did Idaho entice anyone to take over?

Sure, there are but 300 and some odd D-1 head coaching positions but we're always surprised when someone decides to tackle a complete rebuilding project and one that projects no visible odds in favor of success.

In particular, Don Verlin's move from being a longtime assistant to Stew Morrill to the head coaching spot at Idaho completely caught us by surprise. It seems that it boiled down almost a now-or-never sense for Verlin and we're just hoping he will have enough resources at his disposal to make the Vandals competitive -- a five-year contract will be a great help -- as the departed George Pfeifer was stuck with far less.

Idaho just doesn't have the population to be a so-called basketball state in terms of producing talent -- something that the state of Utah enjoys -- so Verlin is going to have to really do a sales job on the virtues of Moscow, Idaho, playing time, the opportunity to turn a program around, etc.

We struggle at ever seeing Idaho being fully competitive with most of the other programs in the WAC, but we've been wrong before. There are just so many disadvantages. But Verlin is a good first step

New University of Idaho basketball coach promises passion
Chadd Cripe
Idaho Statesman
March 25, 2008


Don Verlin drove from California to Colorado in the early 1990s to meet then-Colorado State men's basketball coach Stew Morrill and discuss a job opening for a graduate assistant.

If Morrill had known Verlin was coming, he would have told him to save the gas money. Coaching jobs are too competitive to take the gamble.

But after the meeting - a former Morrill assistant arranged it - Morrill hired Verlin.

And that was the foundation for a 15-year partnership and life-lasting friendship that prepared Verlin for his new role, as the men's basketball coach at Idaho. Verlin, the associate coach at Utah State under Morrill, was formally introduced by the Vandals during a Monday night press conference in Moscow.

Verlin, 42, has a five-year contract. Financial details were not disclosed. He replaces George Pfeifer, who was fired last week after producing 12 wins in two seasons.

Morrill compares Verlin to Mike Montgomery, the former Montana, Stanford and Golden State Warriors head coach. Morrill worked for Montgomery at Montana.

"(Verlin) was out beating the bushes, and that says a lot about a guy," Morrill said. "I've always told people about Coach V that he reminded me of a young Mike Montgomery. There's similarities there in terms of a great feel for the game, a true understanding of college basketball, a way about him that people like. When he sat down with me, he charmed me and got the job."

Verlin said Monday that he still has that kind of passion.

"I absolutely still have that passion, and you will see it come out in our players and in our program,'' he said. "That will be the No. 1 thing we do here at the University of Idaho - work our tails off every day to be the best we can...''

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