Northwest Notes Aug. 21, 2026

Chavez elevated to assistant coach, Vandal hoops adds two graduate assistants

Luke Chavez was named assistant coach for player development for the University of Idaho men's basketball program, after a two-year stint as a graduate assistant, Vandal head coach Alex Pribble announced.

“Luke has been a major part of this program over the past two seasons, and he has absolutely earned this promotion,” Pribble said of his former player.

Chavez played at Pribble while at Saint Martin’s, Pribble’s previous head-coaching stop. Over two years in Lacey, Chavez was one of the top players in the GNAC, earning NABC First Team West Region, NCAA West Region All-Tournament Team, and GNAC Unanimous First Team All-Conference following his senior season in 2019. He helped lead the Saints to a school record 26 wins, the program's first Great Northwest Athletic Conference regular-season championship, and a berth to the Sweet 16 at the NCAA Tournament. 

He was signed on to Idaho’s staff prior to the 2024-25 season as a graduate assistant, taking on a player development role the following year, keeping the Vandals in top form as they went on to win the 2026 Big Sky Championship and clinch an NCAA tournament berth for the first time since 1990.

Chavez’s hiring leaves a total of two spots open at the GA position, and Pribble has added Will Chipman and Anton Webb to the Vandals’ staff for the next two seasons.

Most recently, Chipman was student manager for four years with the Washington State men's basketball program, while also working as a coach and trainer with Adams Sports Academy in Pullman. In the last year, he also held internships with the game operations staff at VSL Talent and popular recruiting database Verbal Commits. 

Webb played primarily at Taylor University in Indiana.

Associate head coach Brandon Laird, and assistants Adam Ellis and Matt Jones remain on staff at Idaho.