Idaho still talking to candidates about men’s basketball job

The University of Idaho has talked to at least eight candidates about its vacant men’s basketball coaching position, but the field appears to be narrowing.

The Vandals are believed to have visited with former Eastern Washington and Loyola Marymount head coach Steve Aggers, Washington assistant Cameron Dollar, Utah State assistant Don Verlin, Oregon State assistant Jeff Reinert, ex-Vandal standout Don Newman, current Idaho assistant George Pfeifer, Fresno State assistant Heath Schroyer and Gonzaga assistant Leon Rice, who was the front-runner before pulling his name from consideration Wednesday.

Verlin and one other candidate, possibly Pfeifer, are expected to interview Monday in Moscow. Athletic director Rob Spear, who returned late Friday night from a couple days on the road where he met with candidates, wouldn’t identify those still under consideration. Spear said earlier in the week that he wanted to bring in two finalists for on-campus interviews, but he was non-committal Saturday when asked if that remained the case.

Verlin’s stock appears to be rising. He’s been an assistant under Stew Morrill for 13 years at Colorado State and Utah State. The Aggies were eliminated by Washington in the opening round of the NCAA tournament Thursday.

Verlin, 40, also was an assistant at Cal State Bakersfield when the school won consecutive NCAA Division II championships in 1993 and 1994. Verlin doesn’t have head coaching experience.

Spear has had phone discussions with Newman, an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs, but there hasn’t been a face-to-face meeting. The two were teammates on a CBA team in Montana in the early 1980s.

Spear didn’t rule out meeting with Newman, but said, “it’s been real difficult with the NBA season.”

Money could be an issue, too. Newman probably would have to take a sizable pay cut to leave the Spurs for Idaho, which is expected to pay in the $175,000 range.

“We just briefly said hello and kind of rekindled our friendship,” Newman said of his conversation with Spear, “but that’s about as far as it went.”

Asked if he’s involved in Idaho’s search, Newman replied, “I don’t think I was ever in it. It was just checking in and seeing what I’m doing. My aspirations are to be a head coach in the NBA or have an opportunity to coach in a great situation. In terms of commenting on where (Spear) is in that search, he’s doing what he has to do in terms of filling that job.”

Pfeifer, who has been overseeing the program since the dismissal of ex-coach Leonard Perry, apparently remains in the picture. Early on in the search, Pfeifer declined comment and referred questions to Spear, who has only confirmed interviews with Rice, Aggers and Dollar, and phone discussions with Newman.

Pfeifer was 296-208 in 16 years as the head coach at Lewis-Clark State College. He has been on Idaho’s staff for one season.

Aggers said Saturday he was waiting to hear from Spear.

“I’m not going to read anything into it,” Aggers said. “I just think that Dr. Spear needs to talk to potential candidates out there and I have to believe I’m still in the hunt and confident I’m the best man for the job.”