Northwest Notes April 6, 2022
Gonzaga part of another loaded Maui Invitational tournament field in 2023
MAUI, Hawaii — Gonzaga, Kansas, Marquette, Purdue, Syracuse, Tennessee, UCLA and Chaminade make up the field for the 2023 Maui Jim Maui Invitational men's basketball tournament, scheduled for Nov. 20-22, 2023, at the Lahaina Civic Center.
Gonzaga was in the event in 2002, 2005, 2009, 2013 and 2018. No. 3 Gonzaga topped No. 1 Duke in the 2018 Maui Invitational championship game, 89-87. Rui Hachimura earned MVP honors after scoring 20 points in the final.
The Zags won the 2009 tournament title behind co-tournament MVP performances from Steven Gray and Matt Bouldin. Adam Morrison was named the tournament's MVP in 2005, following a tournament record 43-point performance against Michigan State.
Teams that have participated in the Maui Jim Maui Invitational throughout the event's history own 70 of the 82 NCAA championships, and seven of those schools have gone on to win the national championship after competing in Maui earlier in the season.
All-tournament travel packages and school booster travel packages for the 2023 Maui Jim Maui Invitational will be available at a later date.
Umpires needed for adult slowpitch, youth fastpitch games, tourneys in area
The Coeur d'Alene Umpires Association is in need of umpires for adult slowpitch and youth fastpitch softball games in North Idaho, at all levels.
The umpires association handles adult slowpitch games in Coeur d'Alene, Rathdrum and Sandpoint, and also supplies umps for youth fastpitch tourneys during the summer.
Training is provided.
Information: Dave White, 208-691-6469, Robie Johnson, 509-220-4234
EWU adds Nurse as cornerbacks coach
CHENEY — Wes Nurse, defensive coordinator at Carroll College the past two seasons, has been named cornerbacks coach at Eastern Washington, Eagles coach Aaron Best announced.
Nurse is no stranger to the Big Sky, as he coached at Cal Poly prior to Carroll College and has had two coaching stints at UC Davis. From January 2015 to January 2019, Nurse was an assistant coach for the cornerbacks and nickels group, and also was the director of operations and recruiting coordinator for the Aggies. He was a part of the 2018 Big Sky Championship team.
Nurse played at Boise State, graduating in 2004. He was a safety and a cornerback and was a part of two Big West and two Western Athletic Conference championships, helping the Broncos to a 52-11 overall record during his time. He twice earned All-WAC honors, being named to the first team in 2003 and the second team in 2002.
Nurse's first collegiate stop was at Boise State where he was a defensive graduate assistant, overseeing the linebackers and defensive backs. From there, he went on to be an assistant coach at The Citadel for a year before going on to the University of Houston (August 2008 to January 2011), UC Davis (February 2011 to June 2012), North Dakota (July 2012 to January 2014) and the University of Minnesota, Crookston (April 2014 to 2015).