Idaho AD announces staffing structure changes

MOSCOW — University of Idaho athletic director Terry Gawlik has announced several changes to the athletic department senior leadership team.

Tim Mooney officially takes over as Deputy Athletic Director/Internal Operations. Mooney will continue to assist in overseeing the football program and has added administrative duties with the swimming and diving team as well. Facility management, capital project, and day-to-day operations will remain part of his administrative duties.

Matt Martin will move into the role of Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Operations and will oversee the men’s and women’s tennis programs, marketing, the ticket office, athletic communications, digital content/streaming, and serve as the department liaison to Learfield. Martin will continue his work with University Advancement to help facilitate the final fundraising efforts for the ICCU Arena and the opening event planning.

Mahmood Sheikh has been elevated to Senior Associate Athletic Director for Development and Vandal Scholarship Fund Executive Director. Sheikh is now in the third year of his second stint overseeing athletic development and has led efforts to increased contributions in cash and pledges over 200% since his recent appointment. He will have oversight of the development and stewardship operations for athletics and continue staffing the over 30-member National VSF Board of Directors.

Krista Gray officially becomes the Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Support Services and Senior Woman Administrator. Gray will continue to manage the academic support efforts for all of Idaho’s 300-plus student-athletes and will also oversee the women’s soccer program.

Chris Walsh will be appointed to Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Health and Performance. Walsh is in his fourth year as head athletic trainer with the Vandals, working primarily with Idaho football. Walsh has been instrumental in developing health-related policies within the department. He will take over sport administrative duties with the men’s and women’s track and field and cross-country programs.

Heath Senour, Associate Athletic Director for Compliance, will take on administrative duties with men’s and women’s golf. Senour will move to the ICCU Arena when it opens in the fall to provide support to our basketball programs. The compliance office will continue to focus on rules education, policy and procedure updating and monitoring.

"From the moment I stepped on campus, it was clear that we have great people here at Idaho," Gawlik said. "I want to continue to challenge myself, our staff, and coaches to grow and mentor our student-athletes and provide the best student-athlete experience possible."

New EWU women’s hoops coach signs first two players

CHENEY — A former Meridian High standout is among the first two members of the recruiting class of new Eastern Washington women’s basketball coach Joddie Gleason.

Jaleesa Lawrence of Meridian High and Jacinta Buckley, who played Lewis and Clark High in Spokane and is transferring to EWU after two seasons at UNLV, have signed with the Eagles.

Lawrence, a 5-foot-10 wing, was the 5A SIC Player of the Year after she averaged 18.8 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. She shot 44.3 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from behind the arc.

She was also named first team All-Idaho as a senior and a junior.

Buckley, a 6-1 guard, played in all 24 games for the Rebels as a sophomore, averaging 2.5 points and 11.3 minutes per game. As a freshman, Buckley played in 28 games and averaged seven minutes per contest, finishing her debut season with 47 points, 34 rebounds and six steals.

As a senior at LC, she was named first team all-state, was the 2018 Greater Spokane League MVP, and led the Tigers to a second-place finish at state.

Buckley and Lawrence join nine returning Eagles from last year’s roster, along with four incoming freshmen in Jaydia Martin, Alexis Pettis, Devynn Warns and Andie Zylak.

Mike Petrino joins

Boise State women’s

basketball coaching staff

BOISE — Boise State women’s basketball coach Gordy Presnell announced the hiring of Mike Petrino as assistant coach. Petrino joins the Broncos with 28 years of coaching experience, including a decade at the collegiate level, most recently as the interim head coach at Montana.

Petrino took over as Montana’s interim head coach in April 2020, after spending the previous four seasons as an assistant coach for the Lady Griz. He navigated the program through the pandemic-riddled 2020-21 campaign.

In his four seasons as an assistant, Petrino’s duties included recruiting, film study, scouting reports and practice instruction. Before arriving in Missoula, he was the video coordinator at Colorado for one season.

Petrino began his college coaching career as an assistant coach at Wyoming from 2011-15.

Prior to Wyoming, Petrino spent 10 years coaching and teaching at Central Catholic High in Portland, Ore., including five seasons as the boys’ basketball head coach, where he guided the Rams to a 97-37 record, winning five conference titles and earning a pair of third-place finishes at the OSAA 6A State Tournament.

A Montana native and graduate of Montana State-Billings, Petrino started coaching in 1993 at Flathead High in Kalispell. He spent nine years working his way through the Montana high school ranks before moving to Portland.

Mike Petrino is the cousin of Idaho football coach Paul Petrino.