Idaho Offers Job To Kermit Davis

Kermit Davis has been offered the men’s basketball coaching job at the University of Idaho, a source close to the situation said Tuesday night.

Davis, a Utah State assistant who was Idaho’s head coach from 1988-90, is expected to accept UI’s offer, but is still firming up contract details, the source said.

Contracts will be drawn up today and reviewed by lawyers for Davis and the university.

Idaho is replacing Joe Cravens, who was fired Monday morning.

Davis, 36, was whisked into Pullman on Tuesday afternoon via a private jet belonging to a Vandals booster. He drove to Moscow and huddled for more than 2 hours with UI interim President Tom Bell and athletic director Pete Liske at the president’s house.

Davis then jetted home to Logan, Utah, on Tuesday evening to discuss the job offer with family and close friends, according to the source.

One possible sticking point to the negotiations is the fact that Idaho universities are required by law to offer only one-year contracts to new employees.

“They’re trying to work around the one-year deal, but it’s not known if they can,” the source said. “They’re just going through the normal procedures. It could be done (today) or Thursday.”

Liske denied that the job has been offered, but acknowledged Davis is the leading candidate and no other face-to-face interviews are planned.

“We wanted to explore all the things we needed to explore and hopefully things will continue to move forward,” Liske said.

Davis was upbeat when reached by telephone Tuesday night.

“The only thing I can say is we’ve had long discussions about all phases of Idaho’s program and what it’s going to take to be successful in the new league,” said Davis, referring to Idaho joining the Big West Conference next season.

“The talks have been very good.”

, DataTimes