Two Idaho basketball assistants resign
The face of University of Idaho men’s basketball is changing with the resignations of assistant coaches Brynjar Byrnjarsson and Mark Leslie.
Byrnjarsson left Moscow to rejoin his wife and son in Minnesota. Leslie is pursuing other career opportunities. Searches are under way to replace both.
“I’ve known Brynjar since he was an assistant at Iowa State,” said UI head coach Leonard Perry, who returned to his basketball roots at Idaho after coaching stops at Utah State and Iowa State. “At this time, it’s important for Brynjar to be close to his young son and his wife. I don’t think it’s fair to ask a man to be separated from his family.”
Byrnjarsson had been at Idaho for three seasons and, Perry said, “He worked as hard as anyone we’ve had. He did a tremendous job for us.”
Leslie, a 1998 UI graduate, was with the Vandals for four seasons as a coach and two as a player (1993-95).
“Mark has extremely deep ties to this university and myself,” said Perry, who was a student assistant when Leslie was a player. “I’ve known Mark the better part of 12 years.
“At this point in time, he has decided to pursue other career opportunities. I wish him and his family nothing but the very best.”
College football
An independent review committee, appointed by University of Idaho president Tim White to make recommendations regarding Vandals assistant football coach Alundis Brice’s employment, has concluded no action should be taken against Brice, according to a school press release.
Brice pled guilty to disturbing the peace last fall. He was originally charged with exhibition or use of a deadly weapon after an Aug. 15 incident outside a Moscow bar. Brice told police he pulled a 9mm pistol from underneath his car seat after a UI student said he was going to take his car, but that he didn’t point the weapon at anyone. The student said one of his companions asked Brice who owned the car and that Brice responded by telling him not to touch the car and pointing the pistol at him.
Brice is entering his second season as Idaho’s cornerbacks coach.