Liske To Leave Idaho For Toledo A.D. Accepts Similar Job, Awaits Board Approval

University of Idaho athletic director Pete Liske is expected to be named today to a similar position at Toledo, The Spokesman-Review has learned.

Liske was selected by Toledo president Frank Horton, whose recommendation will be acted on at Toledo’s board of trustees meeting on July 10. No snags are anticipated.

Liske, who has been at Idaho since 1992, signed a letter of agreement with Toledo on Thursday.

“With all the things here and the feelings I have for (Idaho’s) program, absolutely it was a tough (decision),” Liske said. “There are a lot of really, really good people here. (Toledo) has a lot of nice programs and a good future.”

Toledo, a member of the Division I-A Mid-American Conference, will pay Liske $102,000 annually and he’ll receive use of a car and a country club membership. He made roughly $70,000 per year at Idaho.

Liske, 55, will probably stay on at UI until the end of July. Robert Hoover, Idaho’s new president, begins on July 1 and UI likely will wait until then to begin searching for Liske’s successor.

“I think the program was in pretty good shape then (when he arrived) and it’s in really good shape now in almost all areas,” Liske said. “It was left to me in good shape by (former Vandals A.D.s) Gary Hunter and Bill Belknap.”

Interestingly, those two names might surface again at UI as Liske departs.

Hunter was at UI from 1988-1992. Presently an executive with the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche, who won the NHL’s Stanley Cup earlier this month, Hunter has toyed with the idea of returning to college athletics. He recently turned down Wyoming’s A.D. job.

Hunter couldn’t be reached for comment.

Belknap, 57, was at Idaho for nearly 12 years, 10 as athletic director. He left Moscow in 1991 to become commissioner of the Southland Conference. He’s currently Wichita State’s A.D.

“It’s not out of the realm of possibility, but I wouldn’t want to project that,” Belknap said. “I don’t think I’d initiate (contact with Idaho).”

Belknap’s son lives in Moscow and his daughter is in Priest River. Idaho’s football and basketball fortunes blossomed in the late 1970s and 1980s during Belknap’s tenure. The program’s prosperity continued under Hunter.

Other names that could arise include former Vandals assistant athletic directors Lance West and UI administrator Jeff Eisenbarth.

West, who played football at UI from 1981-85, is a key fundraiser at Marshall (W. Va.) University. The A.D. there, Lee Moon, is set to take the Wyoming job. Wyoming interviewed Liske by telephone last week.

West, 33, said he is interested in the A.D. jobs at Idaho and Marshall.

“The University of Idaho appeals to (wife) Mary and I a great deal,” West said. “We’ll surely take a look, if, in fact, an opportunity arises.”

The next A.D. will oversee Idaho’s impending move to the I-A Big West Conference after more than three decades of membership in the I-AA Big Sky.

Liske and ex-football coach John L. Smith, now at Utah State, spearheaded Idaho’s decision to move to the Big West.

Liske said he regrets that he will not be around to complete Idaho’s transition to the Big West this fall.

“I’d still love to be able to see our new uniforms (to be unveiled this fall) and I’d love to see (women’s basketball coach) Julie Holt’s crew and (volleyball coach) Tom Hilbert’s and (men’s basketball coach) Kermit Davis’ crews,” Liske said.

Instead, Liske is looking forward to Toledo, which opens the football season with a home date against Indiana. Toledo was unbeaten last year and cracked the Top 25. The Rockets’ women’s basketball team advanced to the NCAA tournament.

Liske replaces Al Bohl, now at Fresno State.

, DataTimes