Zac Claus Tabbed Idaho Interim Men's Basketball Coach
OGDEN, Utah (June 18, 2019) – Idaho men's basketball assistant coach Zac Claus has been tabbed the program's interim head coach for the 2019-20 season after the termination of Don Verlin, Interim Director of Athletics Pete Isakson announced. The decision was reached after consultation with university administration, including current university president Chuck Staben and incoming president C. Scott Green.
Assistant coaches Kirk Earlywine and Tim Murphy will remain in their current roles. A search will begin for a permanent men’s basketball coach next spring.
“As with all personnel matters, we weigh many factors before we make a decision,” Isakson said. “These are not easy conversations or decisions, but we have a direct responsibility to do what is best for the university. Our fundamental goal in U of I athletics is that each sports program be a source of pride for the Vandal community – pride in our competition performance, in how we educate our student-athletes and in how we run our department. Foundational to meeting that goal is an absolute commitment to compliance and excellence.”
Verlin led the Vandals to a 177-176 overall record in 11 seasons at the helm.
Claus joined the Vandals prior to the 2015-16 season following a decade at Nevada where he spent four years as an assistant coach and six as the director of operations. He has helped guide Idaho to a 67-63 record in four seasons including trips to two postseason tournaments.
While with the Wolf Pack, Claus assisted the program to four Western Athletic Conference regular season championships and four postseason appearances.
No stranger to the Big Sky Conference, Claus served three seasons as an assistant coach at Sacramento State and two years at Portland State as an assistant and director of operations.
He began his coaching career at Nebraska Wesleyan as the assistant varsity and head junior varsity coach and worked one season as an assistant coach at Austin College.
Claus graduated from Eastern Washington in 1998 where he played two seasons for the Eagles.
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