Buchanan Returns To UI

Partly because she’s 4 for 4 in helping volleyball teams win conference titles and/ or make the NCAA Tournament, Debbie Buchanan is 1 for 1 in head-coaching interviews.

Buchanan was introduced as Idaho’s new coach Thursday, her selection a reflection of a hiring philosophy that has served the Vandals well through the years in various sports.

She’s a former UI assistant, she’s had success in Moscow and elsewhere, and she has ties to the region. And she’s young - 26.

“If you look at (new football coach) Tom Cable, or when Dennis Erickson was hired, Kermit Davis, Tara Van Derveer, I don’t think age really enters into it,” athletic director Mike Bohn said. “When you look into someone’s record and what they’ve done and the passion they have… . The University of Idaho has been fortunate to find rising stars and I feel we’ve found another.”

And found her in a hurry. Buchanan replaces Carl Ferreira, who officially became the University of Oregon’s coach Tuesday. With the signing date looming next Wednesday, Idaho zeroed in on Buchanan, who was an assistant at Idaho under coach Tom Hilbert in 1996. She was the lone candidate interviewed.

Buchanan agreed to a three-year contract with an annual base salary of $54,000. If she reaches incentives, she could earn up to $62,000.

Buchanan, the former Debbie Martin, was a standout at St. Maries High, helping the Lumberjacks to four consecutive A-2 state volleyball titles and one state basketball crown. She signed at USC, but a knee injury ended her playing career. She served three seasons at a graduate assistant at USC before becoming a full-time assistant in 1996 at Idaho, which captured the Big West Conference Eastern Division title that season.

She followed Hilbert to Colorado State, which has advanced to the NCAA Tournament the last three seasons. She considered applying for other head-coaching jobs, but waited patiently for Idaho.

“In the back of my mind I was always hoping Idaho would open up,” said Buchanan, whose husband is former UI football player Gayle Buchanan. “This is a special place because of my contacts, my family and it has a lot of tradition.”

Idaho had four early commitments from recruits. Buchanan spoke with the four Wednesday night and said two remain firmly committed to UI.

Buchanan has set a three-year goal of returning Idaho to the north end of the Big West standings.

“With the experience I’ve had here before and being an assistant in four different conferences, I know what it takes to win. I feel like I know the Pacific Northwest and I’m excited to be back in this area,” she said. “There are so many kids in Montana, Idaho and parts of Washington from small schools that don’t get seen. That’s a great opportunity for my staff and I to find those diamonds in the rough.”