LOCAL NOTES: Former Boise State, high school basketball coach Bus Connor passes away at 93
Bonner County Daily Bee | UPDATED 3 hours, 51 minutes AGO
Former Boise State head men’s basketball coach Bus Connor, who led the Broncos to their first NCAA Division I tournament appearance, passed away last weekend. He was 93.
Beginning his coaching career in the mid-1950s, Connor spent over 40 years in the profession until his retirement in 2008. Having coached at the high school, community college and Division I level, Connor served Boise State and its various sport programs for more than 20 years.
Originally taking over men’s basketball midway through the 1972-73 campaign, Connor was the second head coach in team history. At the helm for seven-plus seasons until 1980, Connor collected 93 wins during his tenure.
Before taking over as head coach of the varsity squad, Connor was the head coach for the freshman team and an assistant on staff. He was also the head tennis coach and an assistant coach for the football team in his time at Boise State.
Connor is most known for the success of the 1975-76 men’s basketball team. He led the squad to an 18-11 overall record, marking the second time the team finished a season above .500 as a D-I school.
That year, Boise State finished atop the Big Sky for the first time in its first six seasons as a member institution and won the league title. Garnering Big Sky Conference Basketball Coach of the Year honors, Connor led the Broncos to their second NCAA tournament appearance in program history, and first at the Division I level.
During his time at the helm, Connor coached his son, Steve, who played four collegiate seasons under his father’s guidance. Playing for Bus, Steve averaged nearly 18 points per game from 1974-78 and was a 1987 inductee into the Boise State Hall of Fame.
A native of Burley, Connor graduated from Heyburn High near Burley, and attended Idaho State University. He first became acquainted with Boise State in 1966 when the university was named Boise College.
Bus’ son, Bret, is currently the primary PA announcer for all home men’s basketball games at ExtraMile Arena. The 1975-76 men’s basketball team will have a 50-year reunion on Feb. 21 in celebration of the first conference championship in program history.
Vandal signing day event scheduled for Thursday at Coeur d'Alene Resort
COEUR d'ALENE — Idaho head football coach Thomas Ford Jr., accompanied by his assistant coaches, will discuss the Vandals' 2026 recruiting class at a Kootenai County Vandal Boosters signing day function Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. at The Shore at The Coeur d'Alene Resort.
Heavy appetizers will be available; cost is $25 per person.
Information: Shelly Robson, [email protected]
Circling Raven, The Coeur d'Alene Resort Golf Course both ranked among top 200 resort courses in U.S.
Circling Raven Golf Club improved by 15 places from last year’s ranking of America’s “Top 200 U.S. Resort Courses,” an annual compilation of the finest places to play in the U.S. that is published conjointly by Golfweek and USA TODAY.
The Gene Bates-designed layout climbed to No. 98 in this year’s list, which was unveiled last month.
The Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course is rated No. 169 (it was ranked 161 in 2025).