Don Monson
Encyclopedia
Donald L. "Don" Monson is a former college basketball
head coach
and the father of head coach Dan Monson
. He was a high school head coach
for 18 seasons and college head coach
for 14 seasons: five at Idaho
and nine at Oregon
.
, but grew up in Coeur d'Alene
in northern Idaho
, where he played for longtime coach Elmer Jordan at Coeur d'Alene High School
. During his sophomore year the Vikings won the state title. Monson graduated in 1951 and then attended the University of Idaho
, where he lettered for three years in basketball and graduated in 1955. (team photo)
Monson was a successful high school coach in eastern
Washington, a head coach
for 18 seasons from 1958–76, compiling a record of 266-134 (.665). Monson first led Cheney
High School, where he stayed for nine seasons going 105-69 (.603). While in Cheney, he earned a master's degree at Eastern Washington State College
. In 1967, Monson moved over to Pasco High School
for another nine seasons, going 161-65 (.709)
In 1976, Monson moved to the collegiate ranks as an assistant coach at Michigan State
under friend Jud Heathcote
, where he refined the 2-3 matchup zone defense and was given credit for the recruitment of Earvin "Magic" Johnson
to the Spartans in 1977. Monson would stay in East Lansing
for two seasons, leaving in the spring of 1978. The Spartans would win the national championship the following season, defeating the Indiana State Sycamores
, led by Larry Bird
, in the title game in Salt Lake City
in 1979
.
in August 1978 at the University of Idaho
, his alma mater
. In the early 1950s, Monson was a reserve guard for the Vandals
who "never started one damn game here." Monson took over a dismal Idaho basketball program from Jim Jarvis
, who resigned on July 1 after four poor seasons (26-78, .250) and was under investigation by the NCAA for recruiting violations. Jarvis' 1978 team went just 4-22 (.154) and 1-13 in conference play. The Vandals finished in last place in the eight-team Big Sky
every season under Jarvis and had finished no higher than sixth place for seven consecutive seasons.
The first season under Monson brought another last place finish (4-10) in the Big Sky
, their fifth straight, and an overall record of 11-15 for the 1979 season, but the groundwork had begun.
In Monson's second season in Moscow
, the 1980 Vandals finished second in the Big Sky (9-5) and 17-10 (.630) overall. They lost to Montana in the first round of the four-team conference tournament.
, and Gonzaga
). Idaho went 23-3 in the regular season, winning the Big Sky
regular season championship, their first conference title ever in basketball.
Their 12-2 conference record earned them the host position for the conference tournament (top four teams of the eight), which they won and were seeded #7 in the West region of the 48-team NCAA tournament
. Idaho lost by one point to a talented Pittsburgh
team, the #10 seed, in El Paso
in the first round. The Vandals finished the season with an overall record of 25-4 (.862), with most of the key players returning.
, all four Pac-10
teams from the Northwest
. They won the eight-team Far West Classic in Portland
in late December 1981, winning all three games by at least 19 points (over Iowa State
, Oregon State
, and Oregon
).
The Vandals' only setbacks during the regular season were consecutive two-point road losses in late January. The first was to rival Montana on a raucous Saturday night in Missoula
on a tip-in at the buzzer. The second was to Notre Dame
in South Bend
two days later, ending a three-games-in-four-nights road trip, which included multiple weather-related travel delays. The Vandals then reeled off eight straight victories to conclude the regular season, and won the four-team conference tournament, which they hosted for the second straight year as regular season champions.
Their 26-2 record after the Big Sky
tournament (& ten straight victories) earned the Vandals a #8 national ranking and a #3 seed in the West region of the 48-team NCAA tournament
, which included a first round bye.
Idaho's first game (in the second round) was nearly a home game, conveniently played just eight miles (13 km) west in Pullman
on a Sunday afternoon. The opponent was 16th-ranked Iowa
of the Big Ten
, the region's #6 seed, then coached by Lute Olson
. Iowa, a Final Four team two years earlier, had won their first round game handily, but Idaho won this close game by two points, 69-67 in overtime, and advanced to the Sweet 16 at the West regional in Provo, Utah
. http://www.tomandrodna.com/Iowa_Basketball_1982.htm
http://idaho.scout.com/2/239130.html
There the Vandals met the nation's fourth-ranked team, Oregon State
, the #2 seed in the West region. Idaho had defeated the Beavers by 22 points in December at the Far West Classic in Portland
. This time the result was far different, as the Beavers prevailed 60-42. OSU was defeated two days later by the region's #1 seed Georgetown, led by freshman center Patrick Ewing
. (Georgetown would advance to the national final, where they lost by a point to North Carolina
.)
The Idaho Vandals finished the 1982 season at 27-3 (.900), and were ranked as high as #6 in the nation (AP
poll) in mid-January, when they were still undefeated. The 1982 starters were guards Kenny Owens (6'0") and Brian Kellerman (6'5"), forwards Phil Hopson (6'6") and Gordie Herbert (6'6"), and center Kelvin Smith (6'6"). Just before their two losses in January, the team was featured in a two-page article in Sports Illustrated
. (team photo)
Don Monson was named the Kodak Coach of the Year in Division I in 1982 (photo) and rumors were rampant that he would jump to a higher league, maybe to struggling Arizona
in the Pac-10
. That position was eventually filled by Lute Olson
(a year later), and Monson chose to stay for another year at Idaho. The 1982 team was inducted into the Vandal Athletics Hall of Fame, as was Monson.
Pac-10
schools during the regular season, and also won at Gonzaga
, then led by legendary point guard John Stockton
.
The Vandals were hobbled by injuries late in the year, and finished tied for third in the Big Sky at 9-5, and an overall record of 20-7. They lost in the first round of the conference tourney at Reno
to regular season champion Nevada
. This letdown was followed by a first round loss in the NIT
against Oregon State
in Corvallis
on March 16, ending the Vandals' season at 20-9 (.690), and Monson's five year stint on the Palouse
.
community in the early 1980s, bringing championship status to a university that had long struggled in both football and basketball. He was well-known for his anguished expressions and contorted body language while on the Idaho sideline, which became the subject for an unofficial fan club (and caricature
T-shirts). Monson was the biggest thing to happen to Vandal basketball since Gus Johnson
in 1963 (and his elevated nail at the Corner Club on Main Street).
The Vandal basketball team could outdraw the Division I-AA football team in the multi-purpose Kibbie Dome
, and it was ranked by Sports Illustrated
as one of the toughest home courts in America. From January 1980 to February 1983, the Vandals won 43 consecutive games on their home floor. (After a shocking loss to Montana
in front of a record 11,800 on February 12, the Vandals would win their final three home games in 1983.) In Monson's final four seasons at Idaho, the Vandals were 51-2 (.962) at home.
Monson's overall record in his five seasons at Idaho
was 100-41 (.709), and was 72-16 (.818) in his final three seasons. His successor was Bill Trumbo, a successful junior college
head coach in northern California
. Trumbo did not come close to equaling Monson's success, as the Vandals struggled and returned to last place in the Big Sky
in each of his three seasons, going 8-34 (.214) in conference and 28-59 (.322) overall. Trumbo lost 21 games at home in the Kibbie Dome
and was relieved following the 1986 season, replaced by Tim Floyd
.
During the "Monson Era" at Idaho, the neighboring Washington State
Cougars were also doing well in basketball under head coach George Raveling. Monson's Vandals were 3-2 against the Cougars, winning the final three to the great frustration of the Cougar Nation
and the Pullman
community.
The highlight of this series was the final game, in early December 1982, which was the only one played in Moscow
. A then-record crowd of over 11,000 packed into the Kibbie Dome's
south grandstand & expanded temporary bleachers to witness a four-point overtime victory for the Vandals, their 37th consecutive win at home. Concurrently in Kentucky
, the resurgent Vandal football
team (under first-year coach Dennis Erickson
) was battling eventual champion Eastern Kentucky
in the I-AA playoffs; losing 38-30 in a game that went down to the final play.
That 1983 Cougar team, led by future NBA
guard Craig Ehlo
, would finish second in the Pac-10 with a 14-4 record, a game behind champion UCLA. The Cougars' non-conference losses were both on the road in early December to Big Sky
opponents; Idaho
and Montana
. The Cougars advanced to the second round in the West regional of the NCAA tournament
, losing to #1 seed Virginia
by five points, finishing at 23-7. After that loss, head coach
George Raveling left Washington State
to replace Lute Olson
at Iowa
. With Monson also leaving for Oregon
, college basketball on the Palouse
went into dormancy. Simultaneous success for both universities in basketball (or any other sport) has yet to recur.
conference, coaching the University of Oregon
in Eugene
. He took over a 9-18 team from former head coach Jim Haney
. Monson's best record at Oregon came in his first season, as the 1984 Ducks went 11-7 in the Pac-10
and 16-13 (.552) overall. Monson went 116-145 (.444) in nine seasons, but never made the NCAA tournament
. The Ducks qualified for the NIT
three times, but only won one game, in 1988.
Monson's final year at Oregon was the 1992 season, which ended with a dismal 2-16 record in conference and 6-21 (.222) overall. He was replaced by Jerry Green
, who coached the Ducks for five seasons before leaving for Tennessee
after the 1997 season.
Green was succeeded by Ernie Kent
.
Monson's Oregon Ducks never faced the Idaho Vandals during his nine seasons in Eugene. The two teams played the season before Monson arrived (his last at Idaho, in the Far West Classic, a Vandal victory) and the one immediately after he departed in December 1992.
Monson's teams went 216-186 (.537) in his 14 seasons as a head coach. His best finish was with his 1982 Idaho Vandals
, a #3 seed in the West regional that advanced to the Sweet Sixteen
, and spent time in the national polls in the Top Ten. They finished 27-3 without a starter taller than 6'6".
In December 2004, Gonzaga
honored Monson with the second annual "Battle in Seattle Award," presented to an individual who has demonstrated a lifelong contribution to basketball in the Pacific Northwest
. http://gozags.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/120104aaa.html Marv Harshman
was the inaugural recipient a year earlier.
Monson currently resides in Spokane
, as does his former boss and mentor Jud Heathcote
.
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
and the father of head coach Dan Monson
Dan Monson
Daniel Lloyd Monson is an American college basketball coach. He was hired as the head coach of the Long Beach State 49ers on April 7, 2007. Previously he was head coach at the University of Minnesota for over seven seasons, from July 24, 1999, to November 30, 2006...
. He was a high school head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
for 18 seasons and college head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
for 14 seasons: five at Idaho
Idaho Vandals men's basketball
The Idaho Vandals men's basketball team represents the University of Idaho, located in Moscow, Idaho, in NCAA Division I basketball competition. They currently compete in the Western Athletic Conference...
and nine at Oregon
Oregon Ducks men's basketball
Oregon Ducks men’s college basketball is an intercollegiate basketball program that competes in the NCAA Division I and is a member of the Pac-12 Conference, representing the University of Oregon. The Ducks play their home games at Matthew Knight Arena. Oregon, then coached by Howard Hobson, won...
.
Early years and career
Monson was born in rural MinnesotaMinnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, but grew up in Coeur d'Alene
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Coeur d'Alene is the largest city and county seat of Kootenai County, Idaho, United States. It is the principal city of the Coeur d'Alene Metropolitan Statistical Area. Coeur d'Alene has the second largest metropolitan area in the state of Idaho. As of the 2010 census the population of Coeur...
in northern Idaho
Idaho Panhandle
The Idaho Panhandle is the northern region of the U.S. State of Idaho that encompasses the ten northernmost counties of Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Clearwater, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce, Shoshone. Residents of the panhandle refer to the region as North Idaho...
, where he played for longtime coach Elmer Jordan at Coeur d'Alene High School
Coeur d'Alene High School
Coeur d’Alene High School is a public high school in Idaho which serves the cities of Coeur d'Alene, Dalton Gardens, Hayden, and a portion of Kootenai County.-Notable alumni:...
. During his sophomore year the Vikings won the state title. Monson graduated in 1951 and then attended the University of Idaho
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
, where he lettered for three years in basketball and graduated in 1955. (team photo)
Monson was a successful high school coach in eastern
Eastern Washington
Eastern Washington is the portion of the U.S. state of Washington east of the Cascade Range. The region contains the city of Spokane , the Tri-Cities, the Columbia River and the Grand Coulee Dam, the Hanford Nuclear Reservation and the fertile farmlands of the Yakima Valley and the...
Washington, a head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
for 18 seasons from 1958–76, compiling a record of 266-134 (.665). Monson first led Cheney
Cheney, Washington
Cheney is a city in Spokane County, Washington, United States. The full time resident population was 10,590 as of 2010 census. Eastern Washington University is located in Cheney, and its population grows to approximately 17,600 people on a temporary basis when classes at Eastern Washington...
High School, where he stayed for nine seasons going 105-69 (.603). While in Cheney, he earned a master's degree at Eastern Washington State College
Eastern Washington University
Eastern Washington University is an American public, coeducational university located in Cheney, Washington.Founded in 1882, the university is academically divided into four colleges: Arts and Letters; Business and Public Administration; Science, Health and Engineering; and Social & Behavioral...
. In 1967, Monson moved over to Pasco High School
Pasco High School
Pasco Senior High School, located at 1108 N. 10th Avenue in Pasco, Washington, is the largest high school in the Tri-Cities of Washington. Its mascot is the Bulldog and its colors are purple and white. Pasco High has a very diverse student body and a strong football program...
for another nine seasons, going 161-65 (.709)
In 1976, Monson moved to the collegiate ranks as an assistant coach at Michigan State
Michigan State Spartans men's basketball
The Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team represents Michigan State University and competes in the Big Ten Conference of NCAA Division I. The team currently plays at the Breslin Student Events Center...
under friend Jud Heathcote
Jud Heathcote
George Melvin "Jud" Heathcote is a former college basketball coach. He was a head coach for 24 seasons at the collegiate level: five at Montana and 19 at Michigan State...
, where he refined the 2-3 matchup zone defense and was given credit for the recruitment of Earvin "Magic" Johnson
Magic Johnson
Earvin "Magic" Johnson Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player who played point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . After winning championships in high school and college, Johnson was selected first overall in the 1979 NBA Draft by the Lakers...
to the Spartans in 1977. Monson would stay in East Lansing
East Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located directly east of Lansing, Michigan, the state's capital. Most of the city is within Ingham County, though a small portion lies in Clinton County. The population was 48,579 at the time of the 2010 census, an increase from...
for two seasons, leaving in the spring of 1978. The Spartans would win the national championship the following season, defeating the Indiana State Sycamores
Indiana State Sycamores men's basketball
The Indiana State Sycamores basketball is the NCAA Division I men's basketball program of Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana. They currently compete in the Missouri Valley Conference...
, led by Larry Bird
Larry Bird
Larry Joe Bird is a former American NBA basketball player and coach. Drafted into the NBA sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1978, Bird started at small forward and power forward for thirteen seasons, spearheading one of the NBA's most formidable frontcourts that included center Robert Parish...
, in the title game in Salt Lake City
Jon M. Huntsman Center
Jon M. Huntsman Center is a 15,000-seat multi-purpose arena on the campus of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah. The arena opened in 1969 and is named after chemicals entrepreneur and philanthropist Jon M. Huntsman, father of Utah's former governor Jon Huntsman, Jr....
in 1979
1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 40 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 9, 1979, and ended with the championship game on March 26 in Salt Lake City, Utah...
.
Idaho Vandals
Don Monson became a college head coachHead coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
in August 1978 at the University of Idaho
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
, his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
. In the early 1950s, Monson was a reserve guard for the Vandals
Idaho Vandals men's basketball
The Idaho Vandals men's basketball team represents the University of Idaho, located in Moscow, Idaho, in NCAA Division I basketball competition. They currently compete in the Western Athletic Conference...
who "never started one damn game here." Monson took over a dismal Idaho basketball program from Jim Jarvis
Jim Jarvis
Jim Jarvis is a retired American basketball player. A point guard, Jarvis played collegiately at Oregon State University, where he helped the Beavers win the NCAA West Regional championship in 1963 and earn their first Final Four appearance.He was drafted by the San Francisco Warriors of the...
, who resigned on July 1 after four poor seasons (26-78, .250) and was under investigation by the NCAA for recruiting violations. Jarvis' 1978 team went just 4-22 (.154) and 1-13 in conference play. The Vandals finished in last place in the eight-team Big Sky
Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,...
every season under Jarvis and had finished no higher than sixth place for seven consecutive seasons.
The first season under Monson brought another last place finish (4-10) in the Big Sky
Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,...
, their fifth straight, and an overall record of 11-15 for the 1979 season, but the groundwork had begun.
In Monson's second season in Moscow
Moscow, Idaho
Moscow is a city in northern Idaho, situated along the Washington/Idaho border. It is the most populous city and county seat of Latah County and the home of the University of Idaho, the land grant institution and primary research university for the state...
, the 1980 Vandals finished second in the Big Sky (9-5) and 17-10 (.630) overall. They lost to Montana in the first round of the four-team conference tournament.
1980-81 season
Monson's third season opened well, as the 1981 Vandals won their first ten games (including road wins at Nebraska, Washington StateWashington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
, and Gonzaga
Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University is a private Roman Catholic university located in Spokane, Washington, United States. Founded in 1887 by the Society of Jesus, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and is named after the young Jesuit saint, Aloysius Gonzaga...
). Idaho went 23-3 in the regular season, winning the Big Sky
Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,...
regular season championship, their first conference title ever in basketball.
Their 12-2 conference record earned them the host position for the conference tournament (top four teams of the eight), which they won and were seeded #7 in the West region of the 48-team NCAA tournament
1981 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1981 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 48 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 1981, and ended with the championship game on March 30 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
. Idaho lost by one point to a talented Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
team, the #10 seed, in El Paso
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
in the first round. The Vandals finished the season with an overall record of 25-4 (.862), with most of the key players returning.
1981-82 season
The 1982 basketball team was the most successful in the school's history, and has yet to be surpassed. Building upon the success of the previous season, the Vandals won their first 16 games and went 24-2 in the regular season. They defeated GonzagaGonzaga University
Gonzaga University is a private Roman Catholic university located in Spokane, Washington, United States. Founded in 1887 by the Society of Jesus, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and is named after the young Jesuit saint, Aloysius Gonzaga...
, all four Pac-10
Pacific Ten Conference
The Pacific-12 Conference is a college athletic conference that operates in the Western United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I; its football teams compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of NCAA Division I football competition...
teams from the Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
. They won the eight-team Far West Classic in Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
in late December 1981, winning all three games by at least 19 points (over Iowa State
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
, Oregon State
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
, and Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
).
The Vandals' only setbacks during the regular season were consecutive two-point road losses in late January. The first was to rival Montana on a raucous Saturday night in Missoula
Missoula, Montana
Missoula is a city located in western Montana and is the county seat of Missoula County. The 2010 Census put the population of Missoula at 66,788 and the population of Missoula County at 109,299. Missoula is the principal city of the Missoula Metropolitan Area...
on a tip-in at the buzzer. The second was to Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
in South Bend
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
two days later, ending a three-games-in-four-nights road trip, which included multiple weather-related travel delays. The Vandals then reeled off eight straight victories to conclude the regular season, and won the four-team conference tournament, which they hosted for the second straight year as regular season champions.
Their 26-2 record after the Big Sky
Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,...
tournament (& ten straight victories) earned the Vandals a #8 national ranking and a #3 seed in the West region of the 48-team NCAA tournament
1982 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1982 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 48 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 11, 1982, and ended with the championship game on March 29 in New Orleans, Louisiana...
, which included a first round bye.
Idaho's first game (in the second round) was nearly a home game, conveniently played just eight miles (13 km) west in Pullman
Pullman, Washington
Pullman is the largest city in Whitman County, Washington, United States. The population was 24,675 at the 2000 census and 29,799 according to the 2010 census...
on a Sunday afternoon. The opponent was 16th-ranked Iowa
Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball
The Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team represents the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, as a member of the Big Ten Conference and the National Collegiate Athletic Association. They currently play in 15,500-seat Carver-Hawkeye Arena, along with the school's women's basketball, wrestling, and...
of the Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
, the region's #6 seed, then coached by Lute Olson
Lute Olson
Robert Luther "Lute" Olson is a retired American men's basketball coach. He was most recently head coach at the University of Arizona for a period of 25 years. He was also head coach at the University of Iowa for 9 years and California State University, Long Beach for one season...
. Iowa, a Final Four team two years earlier, had won their first round game handily, but Idaho won this close game by two points, 69-67 in overtime, and advanced to the Sweet 16 at the West regional in Provo, Utah
Provo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
. http://www.tomandrodna.com/Iowa_Basketball_1982.htm
http://idaho.scout.com/2/239130.html
There the Vandals met the nation's fourth-ranked team, Oregon State
Oregon State Beavers men's basketball
The Oregon State Beavers men's basketball program, established in 1901, is the intercollegiate men's basketball program of the Oregon State University Beavers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I, and the team competes in the Pacific-12 Conference. The team is coached by Craig...
, the #2 seed in the West region. Idaho had defeated the Beavers by 22 points in December at the Far West Classic in Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. This time the result was far different, as the Beavers prevailed 60-42. OSU was defeated two days later by the region's #1 seed Georgetown, led by freshman center Patrick Ewing
Patrick Ewing
Patrick Aloysius Ewing Sr. is a Jamaican-American retired Hall of Fame basketball player and current assistant coach for the National Basketball Association's Orlando Magic. He played most of his career with the NBA's New York Knicks as their starting center and played briefly with the Seattle...
. (Georgetown would advance to the national final, where they lost by a point to North Carolina
North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball
The North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball program is the intercollegiate men's basketball of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and is considered one of the most successful programs in NCAA history...
.)
The Idaho Vandals finished the 1982 season at 27-3 (.900), and were ranked as high as #6 in the nation (AP
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
poll) in mid-January, when they were still undefeated. The 1982 starters were guards Kenny Owens (6'0") and Brian Kellerman (6'5"), forwards Phil Hopson (6'6") and Gordie Herbert (6'6"), and center Kelvin Smith (6'6"). Just before their two losses in January, the team was featured in a two-page article in Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
. (team photo)
Don Monson was named the Kodak Coach of the Year in Division I in 1982 (photo) and rumors were rampant that he would jump to a higher league, maybe to struggling Arizona
Arizona Wildcats men's basketball
The Arizona Wildcats basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The team competes in the Pacific-12 Conference of NCAA Division I. They are currently coached by Sean Miller.Arizona has a long and rich...
in the Pac-10
Pacific Ten Conference
The Pacific-12 Conference is a college athletic conference that operates in the Western United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I; its football teams compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of NCAA Division I football competition...
. That position was eventually filled by Lute Olson
Lute Olson
Robert Luther "Lute" Olson is a retired American men's basketball coach. He was most recently head coach at the University of Arizona for a period of 25 years. He was also head coach at the University of Iowa for 9 years and California State University, Long Beach for one season...
(a year later), and Monson chose to stay for another year at Idaho. The 1982 team was inducted into the Vandal Athletics Hall of Fame, as was Monson.
1982-83 season
The 1983 Vandals returned three starters (Kellerman, Hopson, and Smith) and began the season at 13-1, repeating as Far West Classic champs in December 1982. Idaho again defeated all four NorthwestPacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
Pac-10
Pacific Ten Conference
The Pacific-12 Conference is a college athletic conference that operates in the Western United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I; its football teams compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of NCAA Division I football competition...
schools during the regular season, and also won at Gonzaga
Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University is a private Roman Catholic university located in Spokane, Washington, United States. Founded in 1887 by the Society of Jesus, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and is named after the young Jesuit saint, Aloysius Gonzaga...
, then led by legendary point guard John Stockton
John Stockton
John Houston Stockton is a retired American professional basketball player who spent his entire career as a point guard for the Utah Jazz of the NBA from 1984 to 2003. Stockton is regarded as one of the best point guards of all time, holding the NBA records for most career assists and steals by...
.
The Vandals were hobbled by injuries late in the year, and finished tied for third in the Big Sky at 9-5, and an overall record of 20-7. They lost in the first round of the conference tourney at Reno
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
to regular season champion Nevada
University of Nevada, Reno
The University of Nevada, Reno , is a teaching and research university established in 1874 and located in Reno, Nevada, USA...
. This letdown was followed by a first round loss in the NIT
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
against Oregon State
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
in Corvallis
Corvallis, Oregon
Corvallis is a city located in central western Oregon, United States. It is the county seat of Benton County and the principal city of the Corvallis, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Benton County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 54,462....
on March 16, ending the Vandals' season at 20-9 (.690), and Monson's five year stint on the Palouse
Palouse
The Palouse is a region of the northwestern United States, encompassing parts of southeastern Washington, north central Idaho and, in some definitions, extending south into northeast Oregon. It is a major agricultural area, primarily producing wheat and legumes...
.
Legacy in Moscow
Don Monson became a cult hero in the MoscowMoscow, Idaho
Moscow is a city in northern Idaho, situated along the Washington/Idaho border. It is the most populous city and county seat of Latah County and the home of the University of Idaho, the land grant institution and primary research university for the state...
community in the early 1980s, bringing championship status to a university that had long struggled in both football and basketball. He was well-known for his anguished expressions and contorted body language while on the Idaho sideline, which became the subject for an unofficial fan club (and caricature
Caricature
A caricature is a portrait that exaggerates or distorts the essence of a person or thing to create an easily identifiable visual likeness. In literature, a caricature is a description of a person using exaggeration of some characteristics and oversimplification of others.Caricatures can be...
T-shirts). Monson was the biggest thing to happen to Vandal basketball since Gus Johnson
Gus Johnson (basketball)
Gus Johnson was a professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association . He spent nine seasons with the Baltimore Bullets, and a final season split between the Phoenix Suns and the Indiana Pacers of the ABA...
in 1963 (and his elevated nail at the Corner Club on Main Street).
The Vandal basketball team could outdraw the Division I-AA football team in the multi-purpose Kibbie Dome
Kibbie Dome
The William H. Kibbie-ASUI Activity Center is a multi-purpose indoor athletic stadium in Moscow, Idaho, on the campus of the University of Idaho...
, and it was ranked by Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
as one of the toughest home courts in America. From January 1980 to February 1983, the Vandals won 43 consecutive games on their home floor. (After a shocking loss to Montana
Montana Grizzlies men's basketball
The Montana Grizzlies men's basketball team is an NCAA Division I college basketball team competing in the Big Sky Conference. Home games are played at Dahlberg Arena located inside the University of Montana's Adams Center.-Season by season records:...
in front of a record 11,800 on February 12, the Vandals would win their final three home games in 1983.) In Monson's final four seasons at Idaho, the Vandals were 51-2 (.962) at home.
Monson's overall record in his five seasons at Idaho
Idaho Vandals
The Idaho Vandals are the intercollegiate athletic teams of the University of Idaho. They participate in NCAA Division I - FBS in the Western Athletic Conference ....
was 100-41 (.709), and was 72-16 (.818) in his final three seasons. His successor was Bill Trumbo, a successful junior college
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
head coach in northern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Trumbo did not come close to equaling Monson's success, as the Vandals struggled and returned to last place in the Big Sky
Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,...
in each of his three seasons, going 8-34 (.214) in conference and 28-59 (.322) overall. Trumbo lost 21 games at home in the Kibbie Dome
Kibbie Dome
The William H. Kibbie-ASUI Activity Center is a multi-purpose indoor athletic stadium in Moscow, Idaho, on the campus of the University of Idaho...
and was relieved following the 1986 season, replaced by Tim Floyd
Tim Floyd
Tim Floyd is an American college basketball coach and the current head coach of the University of Texas at El Paso Miners men's basketball team. He is also a former head coach of several teams in both the NCAA and the NBA, most recently the University of Southern California men's college...
.
During the "Monson Era" at Idaho, the neighboring Washington State
Washington State Cougars men's basketball
The Washington State Cougars Men's Basketball team represents Washington State University and competes in the Pacific-12 Conference of NCAA Division I...
Cougars were also doing well in basketball under head coach George Raveling. Monson's Vandals were 3-2 against the Cougars, winning the final three to the great frustration of the Cougar Nation
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
and the Pullman
Pullman, Washington
Pullman is the largest city in Whitman County, Washington, United States. The population was 24,675 at the 2000 census and 29,799 according to the 2010 census...
community.
The highlight of this series was the final game, in early December 1982, which was the only one played in Moscow
Moscow, Idaho
Moscow is a city in northern Idaho, situated along the Washington/Idaho border. It is the most populous city and county seat of Latah County and the home of the University of Idaho, the land grant institution and primary research university for the state...
. A then-record crowd of over 11,000 packed into the Kibbie Dome's
Kibbie Dome
The William H. Kibbie-ASUI Activity Center is a multi-purpose indoor athletic stadium in Moscow, Idaho, on the campus of the University of Idaho...
south grandstand & expanded temporary bleachers to witness a four-point overtime victory for the Vandals, their 37th consecutive win at home. Concurrently in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, the resurgent Vandal football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team (under first-year coach Dennis Erickson
Dennis Erickson
Dennis Erickson is an American football coach and former player. He was the head football coach at Arizona State University until November 28, 2011, a position he had held since the 2007 season. In 2008 the Arizona Board of Regents had approved a contract extension to keep Erickson at Arizona...
) was battling eventual champion Eastern Kentucky
Eastern Kentucky University
Eastern Kentucky University, commonly referred to as Eastern or by the acronym EKU by local residents, is an undergraduate and graduate teaching and research institution located in Richmond, Kentucky, U.S.A.. EKU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools...
in the I-AA playoffs; losing 38-30 in a game that went down to the final play.
That 1983 Cougar team, led by future NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
guard Craig Ehlo
Craig Ehlo
Joel Craig Ehlo, , is a retired American National Basketball Association player.A guard/forward from Odessa Junior College and Washington State University, Ehlo was selected in the third round of the 1983 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets, and went with the Rockets to the 1986 NBA Finals in a...
, would finish second in the Pac-10 with a 14-4 record, a game behind champion UCLA. The Cougars' non-conference losses were both on the road in early December to Big Sky
Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,...
opponents; Idaho
Idaho Vandals men's basketball
The Idaho Vandals men's basketball team represents the University of Idaho, located in Moscow, Idaho, in NCAA Division I basketball competition. They currently compete in the Western Athletic Conference...
and Montana
Montana Grizzlies men's basketball
The Montana Grizzlies men's basketball team is an NCAA Division I college basketball team competing in the Big Sky Conference. Home games are played at Dahlberg Arena located inside the University of Montana's Adams Center.-Season by season records:...
. The Cougars advanced to the second round in the West regional of the NCAA tournament
1983 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1983 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 52 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 2, 1983, and ended with the championship game on April 4 at The Pit, then officially known...
, losing to #1 seed Virginia
Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball
The Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball program represents the University of Virginia in the Atlantic Coast Conference in the NCAA's Division I. The team is coached by Tony Bennett.-Statistics:-Retired numbers:-Retired jerseys:...
by five points, finishing at 23-7. After that loss, head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
George Raveling left Washington State
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
to replace Lute Olson
Lute Olson
Robert Luther "Lute" Olson is a retired American men's basketball coach. He was most recently head coach at the University of Arizona for a period of 25 years. He was also head coach at the University of Iowa for 9 years and California State University, Long Beach for one season...
at Iowa
Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball
The Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team represents the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, as a member of the Big Ten Conference and the National Collegiate Athletic Association. They currently play in 15,500-seat Carver-Hawkeye Arena, along with the school's women's basketball, wrestling, and...
. With Monson also leaving for Oregon
Oregon Ducks men's basketball
Oregon Ducks men’s college basketball is an intercollegiate basketball program that competes in the NCAA Division I and is a member of the Pac-12 Conference, representing the University of Oregon. The Ducks play their home games at Matthew Knight Arena. Oregon, then coached by Howard Hobson, won...
, college basketball on the Palouse
Palouse
The Palouse is a region of the northwestern United States, encompassing parts of southeastern Washington, north central Idaho and, in some definitions, extending south into northeast Oregon. It is a major agricultural area, primarily producing wheat and legumes...
went into dormancy. Simultaneous success for both universities in basketball (or any other sport) has yet to recur.
Oregon Ducks
Following the 1983 season, Monson moved up to the Pac-10Pacific Ten Conference
The Pacific-12 Conference is a college athletic conference that operates in the Western United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I; its football teams compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of NCAA Division I football competition...
conference, coaching the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
in Eugene
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
. He took over a 9-18 team from former head coach Jim Haney
Jim Haney
Jim Haney was the head basketball coach at University of Oregon from 1978 to 1983. Haney resigned after five years because of his uninspiring record. The University of Oregon basketball program had a record of 52-80, including 26-61 in the Pac Ten conference while Haney was the head coach. Haney...
. Monson's best record at Oregon came in his first season, as the 1984 Ducks went 11-7 in the Pac-10
Pacific Ten Conference
The Pacific-12 Conference is a college athletic conference that operates in the Western United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I; its football teams compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of NCAA Division I football competition...
and 16-13 (.552) overall. Monson went 116-145 (.444) in nine seasons, but never made the NCAA tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
. The Ducks qualified for the NIT
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
three times, but only won one game, in 1988.
Monson's final year at Oregon was the 1992 season, which ended with a dismal 2-16 record in conference and 6-21 (.222) overall. He was replaced by Jerry Green
Jerry Green (coach)
Jerry Green was a college basketball coach from the 1980s through 2001. He coached at UNC Asheville, Oregon and Tennessee. He also was an assistant at Kansas under Roy Williams....
, who coached the Ducks for five seasons before leaving for Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
after the 1997 season.
Green was succeeded by Ernie Kent
Ernie Kent
Ernie Kent is an American college basketball coach. He is the former head men's basketball coach at the University of Oregon. Kent replaced Jerry Green as coach following the 1996-97 season. Prior to becoming head coach at Oregon, Kent was an assistant at Stanford University and also coached at St...
.
Monson's Oregon Ducks never faced the Idaho Vandals during his nine seasons in Eugene. The two teams played the season before Monson arrived (his last at Idaho, in the Far West Classic, a Vandal victory) and the one immediately after he departed in December 1992.
Monson's teams went 216-186 (.537) in his 14 seasons as a head coach. His best finish was with his 1982 Idaho Vandals
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
, a #3 seed in the West regional that advanced to the Sweet Sixteen
1982 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1982 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 48 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 11, 1982, and ended with the championship game on March 29 in New Orleans, Louisiana...
, and spent time in the national polls in the Top Ten. They finished 27-3 without a starter taller than 6'6".
In December 2004, Gonzaga
Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University is a private Roman Catholic university located in Spokane, Washington, United States. Founded in 1887 by the Society of Jesus, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and is named after the young Jesuit saint, Aloysius Gonzaga...
honored Monson with the second annual "Battle in Seattle Award," presented to an individual who has demonstrated a lifelong contribution to basketball in the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
. http://gozags.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/120104aaa.html Marv Harshman
Marv Harshman
Marv K. Harshman is a former college men's basketball coach native to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, USA.-Collegiate career:Harshman started coaching at his alma mater of Pacific Lutheran University , where he also was the head football coach from 1951 to 1957, compiling a 27-26-2 record...
was the inaugural recipient a year earlier.
Monson currently resides in Spokane
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
, as does his former boss and mentor Jud Heathcote
Jud Heathcote
George Melvin "Jud" Heathcote is a former college basketball coach. He was a head coach for 24 seasons at the collegiate level: five at Montana and 19 at Michigan State...
.
Career coaching record
External links
- Idaho.Scout.com - The Monson Era
- Idaho.Scout.com - Golden Season of Vandal Basketball (1981–82) - Dec 2001
- University of Idaho Athletics = All-time basketball coaches (pdf)
- University of Idaho - Vandal Athletics Hall of Fame - Don Monson
- Battle in Seattle award - Don Monson - Dec-2004
- Tri-Cities Sports Hall of Fame - Class of 2004 - Don Monson
- Monson recalls Coach Jordan's impact - SpokaneSpokane, WashingtonSpokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
Spokesman-ReviewSpokesman-ReviewThe Spokesman-Review is a daily broadsheet newspaper based in Spokane, Washington, where it is the city's only daily publication. It has the third highest readership among daily newspapers in Washington, with most of its readership base in Eastern Washington and North Idaho.-History:The...
- 17-Jan-2007 - Univ. of Minnesota Athletics - official bio of Don's son, Dan MonsonDan MonsonDaniel Lloyd Monson is an American college basketball coach. He was hired as the head coach of the Long Beach State 49ers on April 7, 2007. Previously he was head coach at the University of Minnesota for over seven seasons, from July 24, 1999, to November 30, 2006...