Verlin begins with Vandals

Some might wonder why a person would willingly take a job that would make themselves an opponent in the Spectrum.

That’s what former Aggie assistant men’s basketball coach Don Verlin did. Monday he was named head coach at the University of Idaho-a school in the Western Athletic Conference the Aggies play twice each year.

Verlin, however, said Tuesday night he is grateful for a chance to be a head coach, and knows very well what he is getting into.

“It’s going to be awful going to the Spectrum,” Verlin said by phone from Moscow, Idaho. “What are we now there? 142-12? That’s not good for anybody.”

The Vandals fired George Pfeifer, their head basketball coach for the past two seasons, March 18. Pfeifer was 12-48 in two seasons.

Verlin said he was first approached about the Vandal coaching job two years ago, but declined it then. He said he was not approached by Vandal director of athletics about the job this time until Pfeifer was let go.

As of Tuesday, Verlin did not have any major changes in mind for the team. He said the only time he has had with the Vandal team was a 30-minute meeting Monday.

“I’m not going to come in here and make wholesale changes right away,” he said. “I’ve got to get to know the guys in the program a little bit. We’ve got to figure out what we’ve got to do recruiting-wise. Right now I’m just focusing on knowing the guys.”

Verlin has been with USU head coach Stew Morrill for the past 15 years-10 of which were with the Aggies, and the rest with Colorado State.

“Don has been with me 15 years and it’s always tough to see someone go when they’ve been with you that long,” Morrill said in a statement released by USU. “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.”

-samuel.hislop@aggiemail.usu.edu