Idaho hires Utah State assistant Don Verlin as basketball coach

3/21/2008 6:33 PM

MOSCOW, Idaho (AP) -Idaho hired Utah State assistant Don Verlin as its basketball coach Friday, replacing the fired George Pfeifer.

``I'm extremely honored,'' the 42-year-old Verlin said. ``I am tremendously excited and am looking forward to building a winning basketball program there.''

Pfeifer was fired this week after two seasons and a 12-48 record.

Utah State and Idaho are both being members of the Western Athletic Conference.

Idaho confirmed Verlin's hiring after the Moscow-Pullman Daily News quoted a source at Utah State as saying Verlin would get the job.

Verlin will be formally introduced Monday in Moscow.