Davis Says No To Old Friend Idaho Coach Turns Down Lsu Opportunity

Idaho men’s basketball coach Kermit Davis declined an offer on Monday to become an associate head coach at Louisiana State University.

LSU hired Davis’ long-time friend, John Brady, as head coach on Monday after being turned down by several coaches, including Iowa State’s Tim Floyd and Mississippi’s Rob Evans.

“John asked me if I’d come down and be the associate head coach,” Davis said by telephone late Monday night from Baton Rouge. “I told John I was happy at Idaho and that I’m going to stay at Idaho.”

Brady, who is leaving Samford University (Birmingham, Ala.) for LSU, was an assistant coach at Mississippi State when Davis was a Bulldogs’ graduate assistant in the early 1980s. The two have stayed in touch through the years.

“We’re childhood friends,” Davis said. “His dad used to own the radio station that broadcast Mississippi State basketball games.”

Davis’ father, Kermit Sr., was MSU’s coach from 1970-77. Another tie: LSU athletic director Joe Dean’s son played for Davis’ father at MSU.

“I’m tickled to death John got the job,” Davis said. “It’s very flattering that he would call me. There are a lot of close ties, there are a lot of great people and LSU speaks for itself.

“It’s one of those situations that will be a great opportunity for somebody. I want to stay at Idaho and try to build on what we started.”

LSU would have paid “as much or more” than he makes at Idaho, Davis said.

His annual salary at UI is about $75,000, but his total package, depending on basketball camp revenues, is estimated in the mid-$90,000s.

Davis was in Mississippi visiting relatives when Brady called. The two visited at length Monday in Baton Rouge and they’ll chat again this morning.

But Davis said unequivocally that he isn’t going to accept Brady’s offer.

“I wouldn’t even have come down if John weren’t the type of friend he is,” Davis said. “It just worked out that I was in the South and I told John I’d talk to him.”

Contacted Monday night in Baton Rouge, Brady became incensed at a reporter’s questions and wouldn’t answer if he’d discussed the position with Davis.

Davis just completed his first year back in his second stint as Idaho’s head coach. The Vandals went 13-17 and tied for last place in the Big West’s East Division.

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