MOSCOW, Idaho — Don Monson, the former University of Idaho basketball coach who led the Vandals to their only NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance, died peacefully Wednesday night at the age of 92, his family confirmed.
According to a post on social media from his son Dan Monson, he passed away while holding his wife’s hand.
“I’ve lost a great father, my idol, role model, mentor, and, as he would say, Partner,” his child shared in a public tribute. “Rest in peace — Big Mons, Mons, Dad, Don, Donny, Papa, Coach, Coach Monson. I love you, Dad. PARTSY.”
Monson, a native of Idaho, left a significant legacy with the Vandals, first as a student-athlete and later as head coach. According to University of Idaho athletic records, he lettered four times for the men’s basketball team from 1952 to 1955.
His greatest impact came during his coaching tenure in the early 1980s. Monson was named the 1981-82 Kodak Division I National Coach of the Year, after guiding Idaho to a 27-3 overall record and the program’s first and only NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance.
That season, the Vandals started 16-0 and climbed to a No. 6 national ranking. They defeated Iowa, led by legendary coach Lute Olson, in the opening round of the NCAA tournament before falling in the regional semifinal. The season remains one of the most successful in program history.
A year earlier, in 1980-81, Monson took Idaho to its first NCAA tournament appearance — a milestone achievement for the program.
Prior to returning to Idaho, Monson was an assistant coach at Michigan State University under Jud Heathcote. He played a key role in the recruitment of Earvin “Magic” Johnson in 1977, according to Michigan State athletic department archives.
Monson is survived by his wife and family. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
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