PSU coach visits UI

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.

San Diego coach Jim Harbaugh was scheduled to visit Moscow today, but his itinerary changed when he landed the Stanford coaching job Monday. Washington State defensive coordinator Robb Akey, ex-Michigan State assistant head coach Blaine Bennett and Montana State coach Mike Kramer previously interviewed in Moscow.

It wasn’t clear if Idaho is planning additional interviews, but it’s possible since the school issued a press release Monday night stating there isn’t a press conference scheduled for today.

Walsh apparently contacted Vandals athletic director Rob Spear on Friday to express interest in Idaho’s job after learning of Kramer’s decision to pull his name from consideration.

“He is a team player and a great role model for the young men he coaches,” Portland State interim A.D. Teri Mariani wrote in an e-mail response to questions from The Spokesman-Review. “What he brings to a university goes far beyond his abilities as a coach. He is extremely loyal to his players, coaches and university.

“His players are good students and good representatives of the department and university. From a football standpoint, he has been very competitive and been in the running for the conference championship most years.”

Walsh, 52, has a 90-68 record in 14 seasons at Portland State, which is a member of the NCAA Division I-AA Big Sky Conference. Walsh’s candidacy is strengthened by the stability he’s demonstrated (14 years at PSU) and his record is better than Kramer’s 77-75 mark in 13 seasons in the Big Sky.

Walsh and Akey didn’t return phone messages.

Bennett spoke by telephone with Spear on Sunday night.

“He said it’ll probably be a couple of days,” Bennett said. “This is a very important decision, an important hire because the next 3-5 years are huge for Idaho’s program. Rob wants to be thorough and he’s doing a lot of work.”

It’s believed Idaho has talked to Rutgers offensive coordinator Craig Ver Steeg, Tampa Bay Buccaneers assistant Art Valero and ex-Vandals linebacker Mike Cox.

Neither Ver Steeg nor Valero returned phone messages.