There will be a new face on the sidelines this winter as Darin Spence joins the Idaho women’s basketball coaching staff.
Spence has spent over 30 years coaching at every level. He most recently worked at Miles City Community College where he led the Pioneers to a 7-24 record overall and a 5-16 record in-conference.
Other than MCC, Spence has coached at Newman, Barton Community College, New Mexico State, Cowley Community College, Butler Community College, Colby Community College and Marymount College.
After being a head coach for a multitude of schools, Spence decided it was time to take on a different role.
“I’ve had a long, good run as a head coach. I think it’s time to coach and recruit and have some fun and let the head coach deal with all of the other stuff,” Spence told 406 MT Sports. “I look forward to doing what I’ve always done.”
This won’t be the first time Spence and Jon Newlee share a court. They went head-to-head 12 times while Idaho was in the Western Athletic Conference, with Idaho winning 11.
“I have personally known Darin for a number of years, first when he was coaching in the juco ranks in Kansas while I was at SMU, and then as a competitor when he was the head coach at New Mexico State,” Newlee said. “Darin is bringing a tremendous amount of experience to our program, an extremely high basketball IQ, recruiting contacts stretching from Kansas to California, and great energy and enthusiasm to our program. I can’t wait for Darin to meet our players and get started.”
Spence won 110 games in his eight-year career with the Aggies, the second most in New Mexico State history. He also led the Aggies to three straight WAC championship games from 2006-2008.
“I am excited and honored to join the Idaho Vandal Women’s Basketball program. I’ve known and respected Coach Newlee for many years. His program is known all over, and he does a great job with his vision and day-to-day approach,” Spence said.
Spence becomes the seventh new addition to the women’s basketball team after Newlee signed six players earlier this year. He will be on the sideline of his first game in-conference game with the Vandals when they play Montana State at home Dec. 29.
James Taurman-Aldrich can be reached at [email protected]