Looney to lead Idaho State hoops

Ryan Looney was named Idaho State’s 22nd head men’s basketball coach athletic director Pauline Thiros announced to players on Wednesday. Looney will be formally introduced at a press conference on Friday in Pocatello.

Success has followed Looney everywhere he has gone. He is coming to Pocatello after spending three years as the head coach at Point Loma Nazarene where he is fresh off guiding his team to the Division II National Championship game. Looney, in his third season as Point Loma coach, was an assistant coach at North Idaho College in the 2001-02 season under Hugh Watson.

“Coach Looney’s record of success is undeniable,” Thiros said. “He has demonstrated that he has the championship blueprint in three programs, and most importantly, his values and commitment to excellence align with the growing strong culture in Idaho State Athletics.

His ability to recruit and develop players is proven, and his success is consistent evidence of his talent in the tactical aspects of the game.”

“I am thankful to (Idaho State) president Kevin Satterlee and athletic director Pauline Thiros for trusting me with such an important position at Idaho State University,” Looney said. “I understand the impact our program can have on the campus. ISU will get my very best every day and it will be the expectation that our student-athletes do the same. My family and I are excited to get to Pocatello. We plan to not only fully engage ourselves on campus but in the community as well.”

“I know we have a big challenge ahead of us. It will be great to start communicating and working with our current student-athletes on the team,” Looney said.

In 15 seasons as a head coach at the Division II and NAIA level, Looney as compiled an impressive 330-132 record (.714 winning percentage) and a 198-82 record in conference games (.707 winning percentage).

“The process to select Idaho State’s next basketball coach was rigorous and thorough,” ISU president Kevin Satterlee said. “I had the opportunity to speak with Coach Looney a few days ago, and I am confident that he will be a great leader for our basketball team and contribute to the players’ growth as athletes and successful students.”

This past season Point Loma finished 31-5 and 20-2 in PacWest Conference play. Looney recruited and developed the NCAA Division II Player of the Year Daulton Hommes. Hommes averaged 21.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game while shooting .533 percent from the field and .470 percent from 3-point range. He was even better in the NCAA Tournament. He averaged 23.5 ppg and shot .526 percent from behind the arc (20-of-38).