Men’s Basketball at the University of Idaho has officially named Zac Claus as the program’s 30th head coach.
The announcement was made Tuesday afternoon from the Idaho Athletics Department on Claus’ promotion.
“It’s a wonderful honor I don’t take lightly, and I had a whole lot of help to get here,” Claus said. “I’ve worked for wonderful men in the past, have been surrounded by incredible players, including the guys that I’m working with right now and I have the best family possible. All of that adds up to a little bit of success this way, and I’m grateful for everybody for it.”
Claus joined Idaho Men’s Basketball program prior to the 2015-2016 season, coming from the University of Nevada, according to Vandal Athletics’ website.
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After four seasons as an assistant coach, Claus was named UI’s interim head coach in July 2019.
Compared to last season, Claus has led the Vandals to two more overall wins, with still five games left on the schedule, according to the Vandal Athletics website.
Senior Men’s Basketball player Trevon Allen has played under Claus his entire collegiate career and said he formed an instant connection. Allen is now in the top-10 in scoring at UI.
When Allen first heard the news, “excitement” was the first thing that came to him, juniors Chance Garvin and Damen Thacker, and the rest of the team.
“(I) formed a great connection with Coach (Claus) from the jump. Like I say, he’s my guy,” Allen said. “I see him as more than a coach. I go to (him) about other things, situations off the court, and I know he’ll always have my back and be there for me.”
During his 10 seasons at Nevada, Claus spent four seasons as an assistant head coach, helping the Wolf Pack win four conference championships.
Prior to Nevada, Claus coached at Sacramento State, Portland State, Nebraska Wesleyan and Austin College.
Idaho Assistant Coach Doug Novsek coached with Claus in Reno and said one of his goals when joining the Vandal staff in the summer of 2019 was to help Claus reach the status of head coach.
“It’s just great … We’re very appreciative of (Terry Gawlik), the President (Scott Green), everybody that has shown some faith in us in what we’re doing and how we’re trying to do it,” Novsek said. “Nobody deserved or earned it more than Zac.”
Zack Kellogg can be reached at arg-sports@uidaho.edu or on Twitter @kellogg_zack.