Five finalists remain for Idaho's opening coaching job, including interim coach Jason Gesser (Photo: FILE/SWX)Idaho Athletic Director Rob Spear has five finalists on his short list to replace Robb Akey as head football coach. One of them is current interim coach Jason Gesser.
The Spokesman-Review on Thursday confirmed Arkansas offensive coordinator Paul Petrino and Central Washington coach Blaine Bennett are two of the five candidates. The other three are Gesser, San Jose State offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren and Wyoming defensive coordinator Chris Tormey.
Tormey coached the Vandals for four seasons in the 90s before leaving for Nevada. After moving around a few times he landed at Wyoming where he spent last season as the defensive coordinator.
Petrino is the brother of former Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino, who left the program last spring after a scandalous affair within the school's football office. Paul Petrino was an assistant with the Vandals from 1992-1994 and played college ball at Carroll College in Montana.
Lindgren is a former Vandal quarterback who went to DeSales High and was recruited by Tormey. He spent six seasons as an assistant coach at Northern Arizona before joining SJSU last spring.
Bennett was once an assistant coach under former Idaho coach John L . Smith when the two worked at Michigan State. He coached receivers at Idaho in 1991 and has been the head coach at Central Washington since 2008.
