UI expected to tab Pfeifer as coach today

The University of Idaho has scheduled a press conference this afternoon at which it is expected to announce that assistant men’s basketball coach George Pfeifer has been promoted to head coach, The Spokesman-Review has learned.

Pfeifer was one of three candidates to interview on campus earlier this week. The others were Utah State assistant Don Verlin and Minnesota assistant Bill Walker.

Pfeifer has been a Vandals assistant for one season. Prior to that, he compiled a 296-208 record in 16 years as head coach at Lewis-Clark State College. Pfeifer guided the Warriors to the NAIA tournament six times.

Pfeifer has also coached at Rocky Mountain College and in the high school ranks at St. Maries, Idaho, and Hardin, Mont.

The Vandals are replacing Leonard Perry, who was dismissed earlier this month. Idaho was 4-25 this season and finished last in its inaugural season in the Western Athletic Conference. Idaho’s search initially focused on Gonzaga assistant coach Leon Rice, who said he was offered the job but pulled his name from consideration the day before the Bulldogs’ NCAA tournament opener.