Q&A with Jared Phay

New College of Southern Idaho men's basketball coach Jared Phay, who was the North Idaho College coach the last 10 years, was interviewed last week by Nick Ruland, sports writer at the Twin Falls Times-News.

Q: How excited are you, and did you anticipate being the next CSI coach?

A: It's hard to explain. I felt good about the situation the whole time. I felt like it was the right time, right place. For some reason I felt like it was going to work out. It's kind of hard to explain, but of course you can't see into the future, so I was anxious at the same time. From the phone interview to the on-campus interview, it felt like it was going good.

Q: What was the interview process?

A: I submitted my application, and of course cleared it for the administration. I never wanted to do anything behind their back and of course they were very supportive. Eventually got a call that they wanted to do a phone interview, and eventually was brought onto campus for an on-campus interview, and from there had to wait close to a week until I heard.

Q: Did the fact that North Idaho College was moving out of the Scenic West Athletic Conference and into the NWAACC influence your decision to pursue the CSI job?

A: It didn't influence me personally, but I think it probably made things smoother with both administrations, because I think they understood. Unfortunately it's going to be a rivalry that is going to be nonexistent.

Q: Explain what the NIC-CSI rivalry was like from your perspective on the Cardinals sideline?

A: Well, part of why I wanted this job is that you love to have that home support, and I just remember timeouts where it was so loud I had to write on the whiteboard. As a coach that is what you want to be a part of.

Q: What is the basic identity you think CSI has and do you want to continue in that mold?

A: I think it's like putting together a puzzle. We can't just have one guy that can do this. If our whole team can do this but just not shoot it. We need a James Reid who can shoot it and a Montigo Alford who can create, and you need the bigs and you need a little bit of everything. I just feel like, and you talk about the recruiting budget here, that I can get the same type of guys that I was getting at North Idaho just a step better.

Q: What was the recruiting budget at NIC?

A: To be honest, the recruiting budget was non-existent. We would do a fundraiser, and it would get the point where we would drive to Seattle and it was just a tank of gas. To be honest, it might have been the best decision for them to go the NWAAC, if that's what it had gotten to. Every year it was getting tougher and tougher for us to compete.

Q: Did the back-to-back resignations of Steve Gosar and Jeremy Cox raise red flags for you?

A: No, it really didn't. I loved it at North Idaho but I just felt like it was time for me to move on and meet a new challenge.

Q: Were there concerns that you needed addressed by athletic director Joel Bate, administrators or the hiring committee?

A: Not really, I think that is maybe me coming from a situation where I haven't had resources, so that is where I am so thankful for what I do have, and I don't know what I don't have?

Q: What will it take to persuade the freshman on the team from not transferring and coming back to CSI next season?

A: I'm going to talk to them (this Wednesday). I'm not going to ask for a decision (Wednesday). By early next week we should know. I would love to have all of them. Cullen (Russo) and Fredrick (Edmond) I think are high major players, but at the same time I want players and assistant coaches that are absolutely excited and committed to being here. And if for some reason if they don't feel that then they have my blessing to move on.