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Adam Breske named
Vandals linebackers coach
MOSCOW — The University of Idaho hired Adam Breske as its inside linebackers coach, head coach Paul Petrino announced Tuesday.
Breske comes to Idaho from the University of Sioux Falls where he coached linebackers and special teams. He is a 16-year coaching veteran, including 13 years at the collegiate level. He is the son of Vandal defensive coordinator Mike Breske.
Adam Breske spent last season at USF, his second stint with the school (2005-06). The 2006 season saw Breske coach the linebackers and special teams during the Cougars’ NAIA championship run and perfect 14-0 season.
In 2016 he was the defensive line coach at Missouri Valley College. Breske was on staff at South Dakota from 2007-15, including a stint as the defensive coordinator.
Breske’s coaching career began at Central High in his hometown of Greeley, Colo., while working toward his bachelor’s degree in communication from Northern Colorado (2004). He earned his master’s degree in 2009 from South Dakota.
Earlier this spring, tight ends coach Troy Purcell took over as the special teams coordinator. Breske will provide assistance in that area as well.
The Vandals return to campus Sunday, to begin summer school and offseason workouts. Fall camp is slated to begin Aug. 3, and the season kicks off Sept. 1, at Fresno State.
Watson doesn’t make final cut for USA Basketball
U18 team
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Anton Watson made the cut to the final 18 players on Sunday, but didn’t make the final cut to 12 for the USA Basketball Men’s U18 National Team.
The team, finalized Tuesday, will represent the USA at the 2018 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Men next week in St. Catharines, Canada.
Watson, a rising senior at Gonzaga Prep and a Gonzaga University commit, is a former Coeur d’Alene resident.
The 12-member roster includes: Cole Anthony (Archbishop Molloy H.S./Briarwood, N.Y.); Armando Bacot (Trinity Episcopal School/Richmond, Va.); Ayo Dosunmu (Morgan Park H.S./Chicago, Ill.); Quentin Grimes (College Park H.S./The Woodlands, Texas); Kamaka Hepa (Jefferson H.S./Barrow, Alaska); Matthew Hurt (John Marshall H.S./Rochester, Minn.); Trayce Jackson-Davis (Center Grove H.S./Greenwood, Ind.); Josiah James (Porter-Gaud School/Charleston, S.C.); Tyrese Maxey (South Garland H.S./Dallas); Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (Bishop Miege H.S./Shawnee Mission, Kan.); Mark Watts Jr. (Old Redford Academy/Detroit); and Coby White (Greenfield H.S./Goldsboro, N.C.).
Watson was one of 33 players invited to the team’s training camp.
The team will continue training at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs until Thursday, when it departs for the 2018 FIBA Americas U18 Championship in St. Catharines, Canada, which begins Sunday. The team, coached by Kansas head coach Bill Self, was selected by the USA Basketball Junior National Team Committee.
McGuffin remains undefeated
in pickleball in 2018
Hayden resident Tyson McGuffin, the No. 1-ranked singles pickleball player in the world, captured gold in the Men’s Singles Open division of the International Indoor Pickleball Championships, which took place in Centralia, Wash., on June 1.
McGuffin, who serves as the Director of Tennis/Pickleball at North Park Athletic Club in Spokane, has not lost a singles match in 2018. McGuffin previously was in charge of the pickleball program at Peak Health and Wellness in Hayden and Coeur d’Alene.
Bayley comes up short at
U.S. Open sectional qualifier
PORTLAND — Former Lakeland High standout Derek Bayley shot 73-72—145 on Monday at a U.S. Open sectional qualifier at the Portland Golf Club.
He finished eight shots back of qualifying.
Bayley, who recently completed his playing career at Washington State, finished at 3 over par.
A total of 81 players competed for 4 spots to the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills in New York, beginning next Thursday.
Lucas Herbert of Australia shot 66-64—130 to win the qualifier by three shots.
Two players shot 138 and are the first two alternates.
Erickson, Plummer, Hanson on
College Football
Hall of Fame ballot
Dennis Erickson, a college football head coach for 22 seasons at six schools — including Idaho twice — is one of six FBS coaches on the ballot for this year’s class for the College Football Hall of Fame.
Erickson coached Miami to two national titles (in 1989 and ’91) in his six seasons with the Hurricanes. He was also head coach at Washington State, Wyoming, Oregon State and Arizona State.
Jake Plummer and Jason Hanson are among others with local ties among the 76 FBS players on the ballot.
Plummer, a Boise native and part-time Coeur d’Alene-area resident, passed for 8,827 yards at Arizona State, and led the Sun Devils to the Rose Bowl following the 1996 season.
Hanson, who kicked at Washington State, was a two-time first-team All-American who holds numerous NCAA, conference and school records, including longest field goal without a tee (62 yards) and career field goals of 40 yards or more (39).