Davis Abandons Idaho For Lsu
Roughly 12 months after being rehired as University of Idaho men’s basketball coach and nine days after saying unequivocally he wouldn’t accept an offer from Louisiana State University, Kermit Davis is leaving.
For LSU. Presumably unequivocally.
Making a move he admitted “won’t be understood by a lot of people,” Davis told his players of his decision at 7:15 Wednesday morning and hopped on a mid-morning flight for Baton Rouge.
“I couldn’t believe it,” said forward Troy Thompson, a Davis recruit. “I thought it was a dream.”
Davis said he based his decision on family reasons.
“From a professional standpoint, I don’t know (if it’s a step up),” said Davis, who coached Idaho from 1988-90 before returning last March. “but from a family standpoint, (wife) Betty and I thought we had to do it.”
Reaction from Vandals boosters ranged “anywhere from disappointment to disgust,” assistant athletic director Mike Marlow said.
The search for a replacement likely will include Hugh Watson, former UI assistant and head coach at North Idaho College; Dave Farrar, current UI assistant and ex-Middle Tennessee State coach, and Steve Barnes, a former Idaho assistant now on the staff at Utah State.
Others who could be considered include Don Newman, former Vandals standout and ex-Sacramento State coach; Stanford assistant Doug Oliver, Oregon assistant Mark Turgeon, Washington assistant Ray Giacoletti, Gonzaga assistant Mark Few, and Jason Rabedeaux, an Oklahoma assistant who worked for Kelvin Sampson at Washington State.
A search variable: What names do new athletic director Oval Jaynes and new president Bob Hoover have in mind?
A number of former head coaches are looking for work. For example, ex-UCLA coach Jim Harrick didn’t know the job was open. “I’d have to give it some thought,” he said. “You can be interested, but there has to be interest the other way.”
Idaho faces a time crunch with the national signing date six days away. The Vandals have four commitments from the early signing period, one of whom hasn’t yet become eligible academically. They figure to sign three more players.
Jaynes said a screening committee is being formed. No timeline has been set.
“Really, I just want to hire the best person for the program,” Jaynes said. “If that person worked for Larry (Eustachy) or Tim (Floyd) or whoever, it really doesn’t have an impact.”
Farrar, who didn’t return phone messages, was head coach at Middle Tennessee for five years, taking over a program that was being penalized for NCAA violations committed by a previous staff.
Farrar, who had coached Hutchinson (Kansas) Junior College to the national title in 1988, was credited with cleaning up Middle Tennessee’s program. However, his teams didn’t win as much as previous clubs and attendance fell.
“The boosters were too close to the kids and he had to separate that and try to tell people they were doing wrong,” Middle Tennessee athletic director Lee Fowler said. “I can recommend him highly.”
Davis made a pitch for Farrar.
Watson led NIC to a fourth-place finish at the recent NJCAA Tournament. He was a popular candidate for the UI job that went to Joe Cravens four years ago. Upset by what they perceived as a phony search process, Watson backers held a rally in downtown Moscow.
“I got burnt one time down there and I paid dearly,” Watson said. “But I know there’s a new administration, and of course, I love Idaho.”
If he landed the job, it’s likely several of Watson’s NIC players would follow him to Moscow.
Davis said he wasn’t completely sure of his decision even as he drove to the Kibbie Dome Wednesday.
Idaho and Davis had been discussing a three-year contract, but that apparently wasn’t a factor in Davis’ decision. Neither was money. His new paycheck probably will be in the same ballpark as his Idaho package (roughly $95,000 per year).
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