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Magical
I
ni, and boosters who have
been so faithful," said Monson.
"However, the challenge
of another program and the
opportunity to coach in the
PAC-10 were professional
desires that I felt should be attempted
at this time."
Monson, a 1955 UI
graduate, earned a reputation
of being an emotional fireball
at courtside.
"I go at every game like it's
the end of the world," he said.
"Some guys can say it softly
and get the point across. I'm
just not that way."
Despite this wild image on
the court, Monson brought two
freshmen to Idaho who would
prove instrumental in building
the Vandals into one of the
premier college basketball
teams in the West. These two
young men, Brian Kellerman
and Phil Hopson, both seniors,
ended their careers at Idaho
along with Monson.
twas over.
At 4:30 p.m. on March
21, the Don Monson era at
the University of Idaho officially
ended as the fiery
coach accepted an offer at the
University of Oregon.
But Monson who earned
NCAA Coach of the Year in
1982, definitely left a mark on
Idaho before his departure.
He left behind two Big Sky
Conference Championships,
two NCAA tournament appearances,
one National Invitation
Tournament appearance
and many other
prestigious awards. All of this,
along with his overall record
of 100-41, came in only five
years at Idaho as he rescued a
struggling program and converted
it into a powerhouse
basketball team.
"The decision to leave the
University of Idaho was extremely
difficult, because of
the many loyal friends, alummoves
on
Kellerman and Hopson,
along with other Vandal stars
such as Kenny Owens, Gordie
Herbert and Don N~i!wman,
brought We into a dying program
and restored interest in
the game at Idaho.
And this is what Oregon is
hoping Monson will do for
them. But the task won't be
easy.
Though the Monson era is
over at Idaho, his name will
likely be heard for years to
come in the region. When
Oregon meets Idaho on a
basketball court in the near
future and Vandal fans find
themselves cheering against
their old friend, the memories
will come flooding back.
Whether Idaho's basketball
program continues to prosper
or begins to fall apart, no one
will forget the Golden Age of
Vandal basketball or the man
who made it all possible ... Don
Monson. Clint Kendrick 0
Tbe final game.
Don Monson closed out his very
aucoeuful five-year career at
Idaho by suHering a 77-59 loa at
the hands of Oregon State in the
first round of the NIT tournament.
ln Corvalls. Monson. however
will get plenty of chances to
redeem himseU ln the future as
the head coach for the Beavers·
cross state rival. Oregon. (photo
by S. Blackwell)
Sportsbreak Magazine 207