USU assistant Verlin hired as Idaho coach

Former Utah State assistant basketball coach Don Verlin calls his move to the University of Idaho as the head coach similar to a kid leaving for college.

Verlin has worked under Utah State head coach Stew Morrill for a total of 15 seasons — 10 at Utah State — and he feels it's now time to go out and prove himself.

Verlin was offered the job Thursday night, a week after George Pfeifer was fired, and Idaho made the announcement Friday. He will be officially introduced Monday in Moscow.

"I've been mentored by one of the best coaches in the country and I feel like I've got a lot of tools to be a successful head coach," Verlin said.

That's what made Verlin stand out to university president Tim White and athletic director Rob Spear.

"Don is a winner. He has been involved with winning programs his entire career," Spear said. "Don is a program-builder, a great evaluator of talent, and he understands what it takes to be successful in the Western Athletic Conference."

He inherits a team that went just 12-48 in two years under Pfeifer.

Verlin was one of the top candidates for the position two years ago when Pfeifer was hired, but he pulled his hat out of the ring. This time around, the situation was different.

"I got a great feeling from President White and from Rob Spears about their commitment to giving someone the necessary things they need to make a successful basketball program," Verlin said. "Their passion to do that and their commitment to do that I felt was a lot stronger this time than it was the last time."

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

"It's always tough to see someone go when they've been with you that long," Morrill said. "I am very happy for him and his family. He will be a terrific head coach, and we will miss having him as part of our program. Even though we will be competing in the same league, Don will always be family and that will never change."

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