Gonzaga men's game at Pacific next week postponed

SPOKANE — Gonzaga's scheduled West Coast Conference men's basketball game vs. Pacific next Thursday in Stockton, Calif., has been postponed due to a COVID-19 related protocol within the Tigers' program.

The institutions will work with the West Coast Conference to reschedule the impacted game.

Gonzaga is scheduled to play at San Diego today (1 p.m., KAYU-TV). After that, the Zags' next scheduled game is Jan. 27 at home vs. Loyola Marymount.

Today's NIC men’s and women’s basketball games postponed

COEUR d'ALENE — Today's scheduled North Idaho College men’s and women’s basketball home games vs. Walla Walla Community College have been postponed because Walla Walla Community College is on a two-week travel ban.

NIC's men's and women's basketball teams are now scheduled to return to action Monday at Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton, Ore.

NIC's men last played on Dec. 16; NIC's women last played on Dec. 18.

Vandals name Yelk safeties coach

MOSCOW — University of Idaho head football coach Jason Eck announced the hire of safeties coach Tyler Yelk.

Yelk comes to Idaho from Temple University where he coached nickel backs during the 2019 season and safeties in 2020 and 2021.

Prior to his time at Temple, Yelk coached one season at Northern Illinois.

He was the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at South Dakota in 2016 and 2017.

Yelk coached defensive backs and special teams at Western Illinois in 2013-14 before being named co-defensive coordinator in 2015.

Yelk began his coaching career at his alma mater, Minnesota-Duluth, in 2009. He played with and coached with new Vandal defensive coordinator Rob Aurich.

"I've coached against Coach Yelk as a player and a coach and he has a very close relationship with coach Aurich, just like I wanted to be comfortable with our offensive coaching staff, I wanted Rob to have strong relationships with his defensive staff," Eck said in a news release. "Coach Yelk is very respected across the coaching world and has already been pushed out of his comfort zone in recruiting when he was at Temple so that will help him make the transition here. He is a great "idea" guy that will help our defense in the pass game."

Yelk ended his tenure as Minnesota-Duluth's career leader in tackles.

Dickert adds Whitworth to Cougar coaching staff

PULLMAN — Washington State football coach Jake Dickert announced Friday that Nick Whitworth has joined the Cougar coaching staff as tight ends coach/special teams coordinator.

Whitworth joins the Cougar program having spent the past three seasons as the special teams coordinator/running backs coach at Texas State in San Marcos, Texas.

"Nick has a rich history in the Pacific Northwest and we are excited to bring him back to create and elevate our tight end position," said Dickert. "His extensive knowledge and passion for specials teams was evident throughout the process and he will be a great fit for our program."

Prior to Texas State, Whitworth spent four seasons at Portland State where he served as special teams coordinator/running backs coach.

Whitworth spent four seasons as Central Washington as special teams coordinator/running backs coach (2011-14), a year as the offensive coordinator at Montana Western (2010), after beginning his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Idaho State in 2001. After two seasons, he spent the next seven years (2003-09) as the special teams coordinator/recruiting coordinator for the Bengals.