UI Volleyball Coach May Try Colorado St.

Tom Hilbert, one of the University of Idaho athletic department’s all-time winningest coaches, could become the head volleyball coach at Colorado State as early as today, according to sources close to situation.

Hilbert interviewed Tuesday in Fort Collins, Colo. An official job offer is expected this morning and an announcement might come as soon as this afternoon, the sources said.

Hilbert declined comment Tuesday evening.

Earlier Tuesday, Hilbert turned down a chance to interview at Tennessee.

Hilbert has been at UI for eight seasons, compiling a 174-72 record. The Vandals won four consecutive Big Sky regular-season and/or conference tournament championships from 1992-95.

GU, WSU crews shut out

Gonzaga and Washington State women’s crew teams did not receive any at-large berths to the national championships to be held May 30-June 1.

Invitations for the 1997 NCAA National Collegiate Women’s Rowing Championship at Lake Natoma near Sacramento, were announced Tuesday.

The University of Washington is one of eight teams that will compete for the team championship and has three boats - Varsity Eights, JV Eights and Varsity Fours - ranked in the top three. Also representing the Pac-10/West Coast is Oregon State.

Gonzaga’s Varsity Fours finished second last weekend in the Pac-10 Championships. Washington State finished fourth in the Varsity Eights, the Novice Eights and the Varsity Fours. Those boats were, in varying degrees, considered contenders for at-large berths.

This year’s national championship is the first to be sanctioned by the NCAA.

At the Pac-10 championships, Washington won the men’s and women’s team titles. Gonzaga and Washington State tied for fifth in the men’s field. The Washington State women placed fourth and the Gonzaga women sixth.

All-conference men’s selections for Washington State and Gonzaga were Pat Bears (Gonzaga) and Thad Smith (Washington State). The women were represented by Molly Jordan (Washington State) and Kristine Holzer (Gonzaga).

GU assistant rejects NIC

Gonzaga University assistant baseball coach Scott Rogers on Tuesday turned down an offer to become the head coach at North Idaho College.

Instead, Rogers accepted a teaching/coaching position at Columbia Basin College in Pasco.

NIC interviewed Rogers, Whitworth coach Rod Taylor and NIC volunteer assistant Paul Ivanovsky.

NIC athletic director Jim Headley hasn’t determined if other interviews would be conducted or if the job would be offered to one of the other two finalists.

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