Monson to be Inducted into Central Washington Sports Hall of Fame
TRI-CITIES, Wash. ? Former Oregon head coach Don Monson has been selected for induction to the Central Washington Sports Hall of Fame, the Tri-Cities Sports Council announced Tuesday. This year’s class is comprised of Monson, Sharon Brandon, J.D. Covington, C.J. Mitchell, Willie Turner and Duke Washington.
"There are only a few individuals that can truly be labeled “icons” in the history of basketball in the Pacific Northwest," read the Sports Council's press release. "Don Monson is one of them. From his start as a high school basketball coach in Eastern Washington, to his NCAA tournament success at the University of Idaho and finally to his orchestration of a complete turnaround of the University of Oregon’s basketball program, Don Monson has been both a winner and a teacher to his players."
Born in Minnesota, Monson grew up in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and attended the University of Idaho, where he lettered for three years as a player. Upon graduating from the Moscow school and eventually gaining his Master’s Degree at Eastern Washington, Monson began his coaching career down the block from EWU at Cheney High School in 1958. At CHS, Monson compiled a 105-69 record in nine years, including four league championships. He parlayed his success into a head coaching position at Pasco High, where he led the Bulldogs to a 161-66 mark. His teams went to the regional finals eight of the nine years he was at Pasco.
Monson’s high school coaching success drew the attention of colleges and in particular, another coach with Northwest ties, Michigan State’s Jud Heathcote who coached at WSU and Montana State. During Monson’s two-year stint as an assistant coach at MSU they won a Big Ten Championship with Earvin “Magic” Johnson.
All his success led to a homecoming in 1978, as Monson accepted the head coaching position at Idaho. It took him little time to make the Vandals a contender. In only three years Monson led the U of I to its greatest record ever, 25-4. Monson topped that mark the next year, leading the team to a 27-3 record and second straight NCAA tournament appearance. Fresh from 1982's appearance in the “Sweet Sixteen” and guiding the Vandals to as high as eighth in the national rankings, Monson was named the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the Kodiak National Coach of the Year.
Monson’s success at Idaho prompted his hiring by Oregon in 1983. At Oregon, Monson led the Ducks to their first winning season since 1977-78 and theee appearances in the National Invitational Tournament (1984, 1988, 1990). He was named United Press and West Coast coach of the year after he guided Oregon to a 16-13 record and third place in the Pacific-10 Conference.
Monson coached Duck NBA first round draft picks Blair Rasmussen and Terrell Brandon. He accumulated a 116-145 career record in nine seasons at Oregon. His overall college record is 216-186, including a 100-41 mark in five seasons at Idaho.
Monson currently resides in Spokane, Wash. His son, Dan, is the current head coach at Minnesota, and prior to that was the head coach at Gonzaga.
Each of the inductees will be honored during a banquet May 13, 2005 at TRAC in Pasco. In addition, shadow boxes containing memorabilia showcasing their careers and contributions will join previous classes on the “Wall of Fame,” located in the Sports Hall of Fame room at TRAC.
Ticket information and reservations for Central Washington Sports Hall of Fame will be available through the Tri-Cities Visitor and Convention Bureau (509-735-8486).
The Central Washington Hall of Fame has been made possible through the work of the Tri-Cities Sports Council, which is a special program of the Tri-Cities Visitor and Convention Bureau. The success of the annual induction is dependent upon many partners, including Fluor Hanford, who provides funding for both the Sports Council and the Awards Banquet.
