The Deseret Morning News has confirmed that Utah State assistant basketball coach Don Verlin will be named the new head basketball coach at the University of Idaho next week.

Foxsports.com and CBSsportline.com are reporting that a news conference will be held Monday night.

Verlin will replace George Pfeifer, who was fired after going 12-48 in two seasons with the Vandals, who are also members of the Western Athletic Conference.

Verlin just completed his 15th season as an assistant under head coach Stew Morrill. He was with Morrill at Colorado State for five years and Utah State for the last 10 seasons.

This will be Verlin's first head coaching job at the Div. I level.

Verlin was considered one of the top candidates for the position when Leonard Perry was fired following the 2005-06 season but he turned down the job.

Terms of the contract are not known, but Pfeifer, who was fired with one year remaining on his contract, will be paid the final $170,000.

According to the Idaho Statesman, Gib Arnold (USC assistant), former Utah head coach Ray Giacolleti (Gonzaga assistant) and Leon Rice (Gonzaga assistant) were also candidates for the position.

The Aggies (24-11) finished up the season with a 61-57 loss at Illinois State in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament Wednesday night.

Utah State won a share of its first-ever WAC crown and were the No. 1 seed in last week's WAC Tournament. They were ousted in the semifinals by Boise State.

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E-mail: jhinton@desnews.com