Verlin, Pfeifer interview at Idaho

Utah State assistant Don Verlin and Idaho assistant George Pfeifer interviewed Monday in Moscow for the Vandals’ vacant men’s basketball head coaching position, UI athletic director Rob Spear said.

Both spent 3-4 hours visiting with Spear and selected university officials, including President Dr. Tim White. Spear said another candidate, who hasn’t been named in media reports, will interview Wednesday. Spear left open the possibility of a fourth candidate as well.

“I hope it concludes soon, but I don’t want to give a day,” Spear said. “We have to figure out the direction we’re going.”

Verlin, 40, is expected to visit Weber State today about the Wildcats’ coaching vacancy. Spear acknowledged he’s “a little bit worried” with Verlin’s involvement with Weber State.

Verlin arrived in Moscow about 2 ½ hours later than scheduled Monday due to flight delays out of Salt Lake City. He’s spent 13 years as an assistant coach under Stew Morrill at Colorado State and Utah State.

“What Utah State has accomplished the last seven years has been impressive,” Spear said. “He’s been with Stew for 13 years and Stew is well respected in the business and Don has been given a tremendous amount of responsibility on the staff. He’s certainly a candidate we have to have further conversations with.”

Attempts to reach Verlin were unsuccessful.

Pfeifer was 296-208 in 16 years as the head coach at Lewis-Clark State College before joining Idaho’s staff last season. Pfeifer declined comment Monday.

“George is solid,” Spear said. “It’s unfortunate he had to endure (Idaho’s) 4-25 season, but he’s so well respected throughout the coaching business. He’s an accomplished head coach who has won a lot of basketball games in his career.”

According to the Deseret Morning News, Weber State’s list includes Verlin, Snow coach Roger Reid, Utah assistant Randy Rahe, Oregon State assistant Jeff Reinert, former Weber State coach Guy Beach, Westminster coach Tommy Connor, Utah Valley head coach Dick Hunsaker and Indiana assistant Kerry Rupp.

Former Vandals standout Don Newman reiterated Monday he’s only had preliminary phone discussions with Spear.

“I haven’t heard anything (more) from anybody,” said Newman, an assistant with the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA. “I would think if there was interest they’d be contacting the right people, so I’m sitting here getting ready for (tonight’s game against) Denver.”

Idaho has also talked with former Loyola Marymount and Eastern Washington head coach Steve Aggers, Washington assistant Cameron Dollar, Oregon State’s Reinert and Fresno State assistant Heath Schroyer.

Aggers, who has been contacted by two other schools, said he “hasn’t heard a word” from Spear in several days.

The Vandals are replacing Leonard Perry, who was 48-97 in five seasons.

Rodeo

Sandpoint bareback rider Rowdy Buechner didn’t picked up the title of national champion at the 20th annual Dodge National Circuit Finals Rodeo in Pocatello during the weekend, but he did pick up a good chunk of change.

Buechner won the second go-round of the tournament-style rodeo, good for $3,635. That didn’t earn him a check in the average because of a low score in the first round, but his two-round total was enough to put him in the top eight to advance.

In the semifinals, the Columbia River Circuit champion was third, winning another $1,817, and in the finals he was second for $2,726.

Chris Timberman, Casper, Wyo., won the bareback title in the rodeo that features two competitors in each event from each of 13 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association regional circuits.

Andy Bolich, a Mt. Spokane graduate who was the Montana circuit champion, did not advance to the semifinals in the bareback.

Football

Former Washington State assistant John McDonell has been hired as offensive tackles and tight ends coach at Purdue, the Big Ten school announced.

McDonell, a Spokane native, was a WSU assistant from 1989-2000 under Mike Price. Purdue head coach Joe Tiller was the offensive coordinator on Price’s staff in 1989 and ‘90.

McDonell was an assistant at Stanford in 2001 and 2005, and at Notre Dame in between.

Ex-Idaho assistant coach Joel Thomas, hired at Purdue last month, has been named the running backs coach.