Jon Newlee realized a long-time goal yesterday morning when he was hired to coach the Idaho State women's basketball team. Wahine assistant
lands top jobBy Al Chase
achase@starbulletin.comHe takes over a Bengals team that finished 10-17 overall and 3-11 in the Big Sky Conference this past season.
"Finally," Newlee said from the Salt Lake City airport, where he was waiting for a flight to San Antonio, site of the NCAA women's final four.
"I looked really hard at two jobs, Fresno State and Idaho State, and this is finally happening for me. I've paid my dues, been in great programs, like wow," said the 42-year-old California native.
Newlee arrived in Pocatello, Idaho, late Monday night, then spent Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. being interviewed, meeting the team, having lunch and dinner with the search committee and touring the ISU campus.
"They had a lot of questions for me. I was constantly meeting and eating with new people. I now know what it is like for a recruit we bring in," said Newlee. "Today (Wednesday) I went one-on-one with athletic director Dr. Howard Gauthier. He offered me the job and I took it."
Gauthier said, "Jon knows what it takes to win, as evidenced by the types of players he has recruited to Hawaii and Southern Methodist. His knowledge of the game, his enthusiasm, and his experience will help out Idaho State women's basketball where we want it to be, at the top of the Big Sky Conference."
Newlee, who graduated from San Diego State in 1983, has 17 years of college coaching experience, 14 at the NCAA Division I level at St. Mary's, Texas-San Antonio, Southern Methodist and the last three with Hawaii.
"Jon has worked hard. I think it is a tribute to him and his coaching ability and it says a lot for our program for an assistant to be hired as a head coach," said UH head coach Vince Goo. "I think everything about Jon was attractive to Idaho State. The thing is, the Big Sky Conference is feeding off me. That's two assistants we've lost in three years."
Newlee came to Hawaii in 1999, filling the position held by George Wolfe who took the head coaching position at Big Sky member Portland State.
Newlee will be here briefly next week to pack some clothes, then it's back to recruiting.
"I'll have three scholarships. I want to be back on the mainland to see what's available during the late signing period which I think ends May 15," Newlee said. "A big area for me will be Washington and Oregon, so I expect I'll be going against the Wahine coaches because they have had success there."
There are six seniors and five juniors back at ISU, so the next recruiting season will give Newlee an opportunity to bring in the kind of players he wants.
"My three years in Hawaii were great. Vince is great to work for. I was able to combine my two passions, basketball and surfing," Newlee said. "I guess I'll have to trade in my surfboard for a snowboard.
"If I didn't want to be a head coach, something I've worked for all these years, I'd be content to spend the rest of my life in Hawaii. This was something I had to go for and it worked out."
Goo said there is a system-wide hiring freeze at the university, so once clearance is obtained, the vacant position will be advertised for 10 days.
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