“I think Moscow is a special place. That is why I am here. It is the community, it is the opportunity to be a part of something that means a lot,” said Jerek Wolcott, the Assistant Athletic Director for Brand Engagement and Digital Strategy at the University of Idaho.
The Idaho Vandals athletic department is truly one of the most prestigious programs in the FCS. It represents the pinnacle of collegiate athletics in the Inland Northwest. There has been rapid improvement in the past five years throughout the athletic department, and there appear to be no signs of slowing down. The current landscape of college sports is dominated by NIL, a new obstacle for athletic programs to navigate.
“Our coaches do a great job of recruiting high-level athletes,” Wolcott said. “We are all looking for some stability, something to give us a little bit more guidance. Right now, it just feels like the rules are changing every week. Not everybody is excited about how it is going to work. It does take a lot of the fun out of it and turns it into more of a business.”
Despite the ever-changing NIL landscape, multiple Vandal teams have completely uprooted the state of their respective programs and placed Idaho in the best possible position for success. From the gritty nature of the football program to the continued success of the women’s soccer team, it is a great time to be a Vandal.
“The portal is unique. I think about it as a tool,” men’s basketball head coach Alex Pribble said. “It has allowed us to get older and more experienced quickly. The experience you have as a student athlete here is one that I think you’ll carry with you for the rest of your life.”
The 2025 season represents a turning point in the state of Vandal basketball. The team’s 14 victories signify their most regular-season and conference wins since 2018. This was also the first time a Vandal basketball team had a first-round bye in the conference tournament since 2018, and the first time ever that they won a quarterfinal game.
“The athletic department as a whole is special. It is just a great time to be a Vandal,” said Pribble. “There is so much momentum in the athletic department as a whole. There is a lot of pride; Our guys love wearing that Idaho name across their chest.”
One of the biggest reasons for the team’s success in 2025 was the high-octane performance of various transfers. Idaho State transfer Kolton Mitchell’s 51 three-pointers helped lead the team to a school record for three-pointers made in a season.
“I feel like everyone is close with everyone, and everyone knows everyone. It is a smaller school, and that is what I love about it,” Mitchell said. “If you want to join something and be a part of something that is growing … I have only been here for one year, and I feel that every day that I am on campus.”
Along with basketball and a variety of other sports, the football program continues to make waves, helping Idaho become a nationally recognized university. In the past three seasons, Idaho is the only FCS school to have multiple wins against FBS opponents.
Additionally, they have made three consecutive appearances in the FCS playoffs after a 27-year playoff drought. Former head coach Jason Eck was replaced by Thomas Ford, Jr., prior to the upcoming 2025 football season. Despite the departure of a great coach in Eck, Vandal Nation is more optimistic than ever surrounding the football team.
“There is no place like this in the country as far as FCS schools. We expect our teams to be competing for Big Sky championships,” Wolcott said. “We expect to be competing for national championships on the football side. It is a really exciting time to be a Vandal.”
Unlike some other schools, football is not the sole focus of the Idaho athletic department. In fact, one of the best components of Vandal athletics is that, regardless of the sport, they prioritize all their athletes and do everything they can to help them achieve their potential.
“I think the most special thing about Idaho athletics is just the camaraderie among the sports,” Ford said. “I think if you are a high school athlete or a transfer athlete and you want to be a part of a family atmosphere, you want a fanbase that really cares about their program, this is the place to be.”
While Idaho may not always be the first thought in an athlete’s mind when contemplating where to continue their athletic career, there are a number of factors that make Moscow the ideal landscape for player development.
In the past two years, a handful of former Vandals have been signed to NFL teams. Idaho kicker Owen Forsman was the top-ranked kicking recruit in the state, coming out of Lakeland High School. Almost instantly after the recruiting process began, Forsman elected to stay in North Idaho and play for the Vandals.
Forsman’s message to recruits: “For any recruits, they should come here, they should talk to the staff, and they should experience Moscow. Do not make a decision until you have been here, you have been in the dome, you have seen what there is to offer.”
Forsman is one of many Vandal athletes who feel that this university is the best thing that has ever happened for their careers.
“I really like the community feel here. My experience has been great so far; everyone has been super welcoming,” Forsman said. “I think Vandal athletics is always going to do its best for its athletes.”
Liam Bradford can be reached at [email protected]