NORTHWEST NOTES: Thursday, June 9, 2016

Yarno tabbed to coach

Sandpoint High football

As football pedigrees go, it’s pretty tough to beat that of George Yarno, who accepted the head football coaching job at Sandpoint High School on Wednesday.

Yarno, 32, was raised on football, and in particular, the offensive line, wwhere he was an All-American center at Idaho State University in 2006 after transferring from Nevada.

Since then, he’s been an assistant coach at Coronado High School in Las Vegas, and for the past two seasons, the defensive line coach at perennial state 5A power Highland in Pocatello.

Yarno interviewed for the Sandpoint job four years ago, which ultimately went to Satini Puailoa in his second stint. During the second round of interviews recently, Yarno echoed the same sentiment he did before.

“I told it to them then, and I told it to them this time, this is my dream job,” said Yarno, who was born in Spokane and played high school football at Moscow before eventually moving to Phoenix as a junior. “Building young men is going to be a top priority on and off the field. Work hard, play hard, be disciplined, do things right.”

His father George Yarno Sr. starred at Washington State before playing 10 years in the NFL as a guard for the Buccaneers, Falcons and Oilers. After that, he became the offensive line coach for Washington State, LSU and Arizona State, before coaching seven seasons in the NFL for the Buccaneers, Lions and Jaguars.

Yarno’s uncle John was an All-American center for the University of Idaho, before starting for five years in the NFL for the Seahawks. The younger Yarno got to hang out with his dad in both NFL and college locker rooms, film rooms and practice fields, absorbing unquantifiable coaching knowledge along the way.

“I’ve seen him teach it for 30 years. How to get players on the same page; it’s been extremely valuable,” remembered Yarno, adding that he’s also been privileged to coach under Highland’s Gino Mariani. “He’s one of the greatest offensive minds in football, one of the best play callers I’ve ever seen. That’s a guy I’ll lean on.”

Newlee adds Fennelly to

coaching staff at Idaho

Idaho women’s basketball coach Jon Newlee announced the addition of Steven Fennelly to the 2016-17 coaching staff on Tuesday. Fennelly comes to Idaho after spending the last three season as an assistant at Cal State Fullerton.

“I am thrilled that we had the ability to bring in Steven,” Newlee said. “He comes from a great basketball family. I know he has a great basketball background. I really love his level of energy. His basketball IQ is fantastic for being such a young coach. We are excited to have him help this program continue to climb and keep winning championships.”

Fennelly, 27, will primarily coach Idaho’s post players. He will be involved in scouting responsibilities, as well as on the recruiting trail. He will also be the team’s video coordinator.

“I am excited to be given this opportunity at Idaho,” Fennelly said. “Having seen the success that Idaho has had over the last few years is a thrill for me. To get to work with Coach Newlee and his staff is a real blessing. I am just excited to get to work.”

Fennelly was hired at Fullerton in 2013. He served as the post development coach, assisting on both offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Fennelly also assisted with recruiting, scouting and academic duties for the Titans.

Prior to CSU Fullerton, he served two seasons (2011-13) as the head video coordinator at Iowa State. During his two years as graduate assistant with the Cyclones the team posted a 42-22 (.656) record, including two trips the NCAA Tournament.

Before his role as video coordinator, he spent four seasons (2007-2011) as the head student manager at Iowa State, where he scouted opponents and watched and edited game film.

In all, Fennelly alongside his father, Iowa State head coach Bill Fennelly, went to six consecutive NCAA Tournaments, including two trips to the Sweet Sixteen and one to the Elite Eight in 2009.

A native from, Ames, Iowa, Fennelly graduated from Iowa State in 2007, earning a bachelor’s degree in communications and received his master’s in 2013 — also from Iowa State.

He and his wife, Andrea, reside in Moscow.