Jim Meehan

New University of Idaho football coach Robb Akey's staff is essentially complete. The four newest additions: Ex-Minnesota linebackers coach Mark Criner, who will be the defensive coordinator; Montana running backs coach Luther Carr, whose duties haven't been determined; Utah graduate assistant Dan Finn, who will coach the offensive line; and Cornell assistant Roderick Plummer, the special teams coordinator as well as helping with the offense.

The University of Idaho assistant coaching staff is up to five, including the addition of Steve Axman as offensive coordinator, head football coach Robb Akey said Wednesday. Axman was Montana's quarterbacks coach last season. Prior to that, he was wide receivers coach at Washington. In 2004, he served his second stint as offensive coordinator at UCLA. He was with UW from 1999-2002 as quarterbacks coach – the last two years as assistant head coach.

MOSCOW, Idaho – It was a long, strange night for University of Idaho senior guard Keoni Watson. He set a career high with seven assists and had a season-high six rebounds. He got benched at the start of the second half because he delved too deeply into coaching instead of playing.

The University of Idaho men's basketball team was dealt another tough blow when it learned this week that center Mike Kale won't play this season. The Vandals' future outlook is brightening, however, with news that former Washington Husky Harvey Perry is transferring to Idaho. Kale, a junior who has more Division I experience than anyone on Idaho's roster, hasn't played this season because of patellar tendinitis in his knee. He said last week he was optimistic that he would be able to return for Saturday's home game against South Dakota State. Instead, the 6-foot-8, 240-pounder from Henderson, Nev., will undergo surgery.

There were numerous signs of trouble for Idaho's men's basketball team in the first half. Eastern Washington led by seven and every starter had scored except Rodney Stuckey, last year's Big Sky Conference MVP. Kellen Williams broke his season high for points – with 3:30 left.

The University of Idaho and Portland State football coach Tim Walsh took a closer look at each other Monday. Walsh spent a considerable portion of the day interviewing in Moscow for the Vandals' coaching job. He is the fourth candidate known to visit Idaho's campus. The Vandals are replacing Dennis Erickson, who bolted for Arizona State.

Another day, another name emerges in the University of Idaho's search for a head football coach. Perhaps even two or three names. Portland State head coach Tim Walsh confirmed that he had a one-hour phone interview Friday with Vandals athletic director Rob Spear.

When the University of Idaho football coaching job opened up nearly a week ago, ex-Vandals coach John L. Smith and Montana State coach Mike Kramer were widely regarded as the leading candidates. Neither will be Idaho's next coach.

Idaho's list of coaching candidates grew and shrunk Tuesday. Former Vandals football coach John L. Smith said he is no longer in the running for the job.

It was business as usual at the University of Idaho athletic department Sunday. They held the staff Christmas party. Players showed up for a team meeting to hear another football coach explain why he was leaving them for another job. Fairly routine stuff.

College of Southern Idaho owned the second half Friday night. North Idaho College took it back Saturday. This time it was the Cardinals who produced the second-half run, a 29-10 burst in the first 7 minutes that propelled NIC to a 98-91 men's basketball victory over the sixth-ranked Golden Eagles at Christianson Gym.

North Idaho College enjoyed an 11-point lead early in the second half. The next minute, NIC's lead was down to two. A minute later, the Cardinals trailed by four. Then it got worse.

North Idaho College men's basketball coach Jared Phay took a break from preparations for sixth-ranked College of Southern Idaho this week to take care of something that will become his No. 1 priority next week and beyond. "We got our marriage license Tuesday," Phay said. "Can't forget that, I guess."