Newspaper report: Idaho hiring WSU’s Akey to replace Erickson

By The Associated Press - 12/20/2006

MOSCOW, Idaho (AP) — Robb Akey, Washington State’s defensive coordinator, has been hired to replace Dennis Erickson as Idaho’s head football coach, The Spokesman-Review of Spokane, Wash., reported Tuesday.

The university’s athletics department has scheduled a 2 p.m. news conference Wednesday to announce a hiring decision. A call to Idaho sports information director Becky Paull was not answered after regular business hours Tuesday.

In its online edition, the newspaper cited multiple unidentified sources confirming that Akey, 40, was selected from at least 10 candidates Idaho contacted since Erickson left for Arizona State earlier this month after just 10 months as Vandals’ head coach.

A call to Akey’s office went unanswered late Tuesday.

Akey has been an assistant coach at WSU since 1998. He was promoted to defensive coordinator before the 2003 season. Akey’s duties also include coaching the defensive line.

Akey was an assistant at Northern Arizona from 1995-98 and Weber State, his alma mater, from 1988-94.

Former Idaho and Michigan State coach John L. Smith and Montana State coach and former Idaho player Mike Kramer withdrew their names from consideration last week.

——— Information from: The Spokesman-Review, http://www.spokesmanreview.com