Former Eastern Washington men’s basketball coach Kirk Earlywine has been hired as the University of Idaho’s Director of Player Development for the men’s team, UI coach Don Verlin announced Friday.

Earlywine was head coach at EWU from 2007-2011 before being fired.

Earlywine’s role will be focused on developing individual players skills outside of practice.

“What I learned most from the past year was how much I really love coaching,” Earlywine said in a media release. “Sometimes when you’re in the middle of it, it beats you down a bit and you forget how much you love it.”

Golf

Moscow, Idaho, golfer Chris Williams won twice to advance to the semifinals of the Western Amateur Championship in Highland Park, Ill.

Williams, who won medalist honors on Thursday, defeated Richard Lamb 6 and 5 in the round of 16 and then Richard Stone 2 up in the quarterfinals. He never trailed in either match.

Williams, who plays for the University of Washington, will face Abraham Ancer, who plays for Oklahoma, in the semifinals today. Ancer defeated Williams’ UW teammate Cheng-Tsung Pan in extra holes during the round of 16.