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 Don Verlin, the new University of Idaho men's basketball coach, speaks at a press conference on March 24 at the University Inn. File Photo
Verlin, who was recently selected to be the new University of Idaho
men’s basketball coach, has spent the past week on the road recruiting
for Idaho.
“I always think education is giving kids a chance,” Verlin said.
“Sometimes kids haven’t had the chance to get a quality education or
someone to help motivate them to get that education. I love guys who
are good students, but I’m more of a fan of giving people an
opportunity, not everyone has had the opportunities that we have
growing up.”
Don Verlin is looking for new faces — faces you might not expect.
Verlin, who was recently selected to be the new University of Idaho men’s basketball coach, has spent the past week on the road recruiting for Idaho.
“I always think education is giving kids a chance,” Verlin said. “Sometimes kids haven’t had the chance to get a quality education or someone to help motivate them to get that education. I love guys who are good students, but I’m more of a fan of giving people an opportunity, not everyone has had the opportunities that we have growing up.”
After being hired less than two weeks ago, Verlin has repeatedly expressed the importance of his team being “student athletes.”
This strong educational focus may very well be a product of Verlin’s own education. The long time Utah State assistant coach went through community college in his hometown of Loomis, Calif.
After attending community college, Verlin went to California State University Stanislaus in Turlock, Calif. where he obtained a degree in physical education in 1991.
To follow up his bachelor’s degree, Verlin went on to earn a Master’s degree in education.
“Education is the thing that makes it all go ‘round,” Verlin said.
Verlin has not only been recruiting players, but a coaching staff as well. His most recent addition is former EWU head coach Mike Burns.
Burns also has ties to the Bennett coaching years at Washington State as he spent the 2003-04 season under Dick Bennett.
Another part of Verlin’s plan for Idaho has more to do with the fans than the players.
“I want people to be excited to get out and see the Vandals in the Cowan Spectrum,” Verlin said in a press conference shortly after his hiring.
Renewing excitement for a program that hasn’t had a taste of NCAA tournament success since 1990 next door to the team’s Sweet 16 neighbors Washington State may seem daunting, but several years ago the Cougars were in a very similar position.
Verlin has expressed his feeling that with enough fan support and hard work, he said he thinks this program too can gain momentum.
“I am tremendously excited and am looking forward to building a winning basketball program here,” Verlin said.
Stew Morrill, coach for Utah State, said he thinks Verlin has the skills necessary to lead a team.
“He will be a terrific head coach,” Morrill said.
It was written into Verlin’s contract at Utah State that he would take over the program from Morrill upon his retirement.
Outside of basketball, the coach’s priority is to be a good father. He say’s his children — Jacob and Sydnee, ages 12 and 5 — take up a majority of his spare time.
“Monday when I get home — the first time I’ve been home in days — I’m going to take my son out to the batting cages and throw the round ball around a little bit,” Verlin said.
The Verlin family will continue to call Utah home until late June or July to allow their son to finish out the school year and athletic seasons.
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