Don Monson

Born in Menahga, Minnesota, Monson moved with his family when he was in the second grade to Coeur d'Alene in northern Idaho.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8qZYAAAAIBAJ&pg=6402%2C4987575|newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard|location=Oregon|title=Monson accepts UO basketball job|last=Kayfes|first=Dave|date=March 21, 1983|page=1B}} During his sophomore year at Coeur d'Alene High School, the Vikings won the state title under longtime coach Elmer Jordan, defeating Burley 53–43 in far-away Pocatello.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ltwnAAAAIBAJ&pg=6436%2C5686633|newspaper=Spokesman-Review|location=Spokane, Washington |last=Lee|first=Greg|title=North Idaho legend Jordan dies|date=January 9, 2007|page=C1}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=B2pWAAAAIBAJ&pg=5359,5098214|newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |last=Lee|first=Greg|title=Monson recalls impact Coach Jordan had|date=January 18, 2007|page=C5}}[http://www.idhsaa.org/Records/1011/BoysBasketball.pdf idhsaa.org] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415082745/http://www.idhsaa.org/Records/1011/BoysBasketball.pdf |date=April 15, 2012 }} records – Boys Basketball – state champions – 1917–2011 – accessed 2012-03-28{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=52pfAAAAIBAJ&pg=1528%2C1640136|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=Idaho |title=Vikings take state hoop title|last=Faris|first=Don|date=March 20, 1949|page=8}}

Monson graduated from high school in 1951 and then attended the University of Idaho in Moscow, where he lettered for three years in basketball and graduated {{nowrap|in 1955.{{cite web|url=http://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1955/209 |publisher=Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook|title=Basketball|year=1955|page=204}}{{cite web|url=http://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1955/252 |publisher=Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook|title=College of Education: seniors|year=1955|page=250}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yM4zAAAAIBAJ&pg=2435,5451084|newspaper=Idaho Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington|title=Living legend|last=Skierka|first=Tom|date=March 17, 2001|page=14-Handle}}}} {{nowrap|[http://www.tomandrodna.com/1955_Vandals.jpg (team photo)]}} He played under Vandal head coach Charles Finley through his junior year,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ki9WAAAAIBAJ&pg=4058%2C4568848 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=Monson, Sather please Finley in hoop drills |date=November 26, 1953 |page=16}} then Harlan Hodges for his senior season.

After a stint in the U.S. Navy,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WJlfAAAAIBAJ&pg=4652%2C5614687|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|location=Idaho|title=We are family: Monsons are a team at home|last=Killen|first=John|date=March 14, 1982|page=8C}} Monson was a successful high school coach in Eastern Washington, a head coach for 18 seasons from {{nowrap|1958–76,}} compiling a record of {{winning percentage|266|134|record=y}}. Monson first led Cheney High School for nine seasons with a {{nowrap|{{winning percentage|105|69|record=y}}}} record. While in Cheney, southwest of nearby Spokane, he earned a master's degree at Eastern Washington State College. In 1967, Monson moved southwest to Pasco in the Tri-Cites, where he led Pasco High for nine seasons and posted a {{nowrap|{{winning percentage|161|65|record=y}}}} record.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=88VeAAAAIBAJ&pg=5038%2C8447024|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=Idaho |title=Monson named UI basketball coach|date=August 23, 1978|page=1B}}

Monson moved up to the collegiate ranks in 1976 as an assistant under friend Jud Heathcote at Michigan State. Heathcoate (1927–2017) was in his first year with the Spartans, hired after five seasons as head coach at Montana; he was previously an assistant at Washington State in Pullman and a high school head coach in the Spokane area at West Valley. The two had first crossed paths in December 1950, when Monson was a high school senior; he scored a dozen points and CDA defeated West Valley {{nowrap|35–25}} in Heathcote's first game as a {{nowrap|head coach.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RtdYAAAAIBAJ&pg=4135%2C1811305 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=(Washington)|agency=Associated Press |title=Vikings defeat WV Eagles, 35-25 |date=December 6, 1950 |page=25}}}}

With the Spartans, Monson refined the {{nowrap|2–3}} matchup zone defense and was given credit for the recruitment of Earvin "Magic" Johnson to the Spartans in 1977. Monson stayed in East Lansing for two seasons, leaving in August 1978 for the late vacancy at Idaho. The Spartans won the national championship that season, defeating the Indiana State Sycamores, led by Larry Bird, in the title game in Salt Lake City in 1979.

Monson became a college head coach in August 1978 at the University of Idaho, his alma mater.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9MVeAAAAIBAJ&pg=5248%2C8914376 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=Idaho |title=Monson makes his debut at Idaho sports luncheon |last=Barrows |first=Bob |date=August 24, 1978 |page=3B }} In the early 1950s, he was a reserve guard for the Vandals who "never started one damn game here." Monson took over a dismal Idaho basketball program from Jim Jarvis, who resigned on July 1 after four poor seasons (26–78, {{winning percentage|26|78}}) and was under investigation by the NCAA for recruiting violations.[http://www.govandals.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17100&ATCLID=205331832 Go Vandals.com] – Basketball media guide – 2011–12 – p. 75{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PDgwAAAAIBAJ&pg=3321%2C1803724|newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle|location=Washington|title=Idaho post to Monson|date=August 22, 1978|page=15}} Jarvis' final team went just 4–22 ({{winning percentage|4|22}}) and 1–13 in conference play in 1978. The Vandals finished in last place in the eight-team Big Sky every season under Jarvis and had finished no higher than sixth place for seven consecutive seasons.

The first season under Monson brought another last place finish {{nowrap|(4–10)}} in the Big Sky, their fifth straight, and an overall record of {{nowrap|11–15}} for the 1979 season, but the groundwork had begun. The next season, the 1980 Vandals finished second in the Big Sky {{nowrap|(9–5)}} and {{winning percentage|17|10|record=y}} overall. They swept Montana in the regular season, but lost to the Grizzlies in the semi-finals of the four-team conference tournament,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7bZeAAAAIBAJ&pg=5953%2C97657 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |title=Montana ends Idaho's dream |last=Barrows |first=Bob |date=March 1, 1980|page=1C}} won by host and regular season champion Weber State.

{{main|1980–81 Idaho Vandals men's basketball team}}

Monson's third season opened well, as the 1981 Vandals won their first ten games (including road wins at Nebraska, Washington State, and Gonzaga). Idaho went {{nowrap|23–3}} in the regular season and won the Big Sky regular season championship, their first conference title ever {{nowrap|in basketball.{{cite web|url=http://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1981/85 |publisher=Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook|title=Basketball: Vandals open season with 11 wins |year=1981|page=80}}}}

Their {{nowrap|12–2}} conference record earned them the host position for the conference tournament (top four teams of the eight), which they won and were seeded seventh in the West region of the 48-team NCAA tournament. Idaho lost in overtime by one point to Pittsburgh, the #10 seed, in El Paso in the first round. The Vandals finished the season with an overall record of {{nowrap|{{winning percentage|25|4|record=y}},}} with most of the key {{nowrap|players returning.}}

{{main|1981–82 Idaho Vandals men's basketball team}}

The 1982 basketball team was the most successful in the school's history, and has yet to be surpassed. Building upon the success of the previous season, the Vandals won their first 16 games and were ranked sixth in both polls after completing a {{nowrap|24–2}} regular {{nowrap|season.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7-pWAAAAIBAJ&pg=7290%2C276586 |work=Spokane Chronicle |location=(Washington) |agency=wire services |title=Vandals No. 6 |date=March 2, 1982 |page=13}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TplfAAAAIBAJ&pg=4924%2C957784 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |title=Vandals climb to sixth place in AP national poll|date=March 3, 1982 |page=1C}}}} They defeated Gonzaga (for a third straight year) and all four Pac-10 teams from the Northwest. Idaho won the eight-team Far West Classic in Portland in late December 1981, winning all three games by at least 19 points (over Iowa State, Oregon State, {{nowrap|and Oregon).{{cite web|url=http://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1982/222 |publisher=Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook|title=Basketball: A Solid Gold Season |year=1982 |page=218}}}}

The Vandals' only setbacks during the regular season were consecutive two-point road losses in late January. The first was to rival Montana on a raucous Saturday night in Missoula on a tip-in at the buzzer.{{cite journal|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1125196/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328180851/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1125196/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 28, 2010 |journal=Sports Illustrated|title=The Week (Jan. 18-24)|date=February 1, 1982|page=40}} The second was to Notre Dame in South Bend two days later, ending a three-games-in-four-nights road trip, which included multiple weather-related travel delays and re-routes, and a 4:30 am arrival in South Bend on game day.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=v1UaAAAAIBAJ&pg=7141%2C2014261 |newspaper=Spokane Chronicle |location=Washington |last=Devlin|first=Vince|title=Idaho at Notre Dame: look who's favored|date=January 25, 1982|page=17}} Although the Vandals hit 14 of their first 15 shots to jump to {{nowrap|28–10}} lead over the Irish, Notre Dame regrouped at home to win by two in overtime. Idaho was awarded just four free throws in the 45 minutes of play and missed them all.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nLBeAAAAIBAJ&pg=2256%2C4130216|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|location=Idaho|title=Vandals die in 2nd half|date=January 26, 1982|page=1C}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wFUaAAAAIBAJ&pg=5652%2C2199035|newspaper=Spokane Chronicle|location=Washington|title=Vandals stuck on 16 after OT loss to Irish|last=Devlin|first=Vince|date=January 26, 1982|page=17}} Notre Dame was led by future NBA guard John Paxson {{nowrap|in 1982.}} The Vandals then won eight straight games to conclude the regular season, and won the four-team conference tournament, which they hosted for the second straight year as regular season champions.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UplfAAAAIBAJ&pg=4182%2C2444608|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|location=Idaho|title=Vandals dream of another playoff|last=Killen|first=John|date=March 7, 1982|page=3C}}

Their 26–2 record after the Big Sky tournament (& ten straight victories) earned the Vandals a #8 national ranking and a #3 seed in the West region of the 48-team NCAA tournament, which included a first round bye.

Idaho's first game (in the second round) was nearly a home game, played less than {{convert|8|mi|spell=in}} west at Beasley Coliseum in Pullman on a Sunday afternoon. The opponent was 16th-ranked Iowa of the Big Ten, the region's #6 seed, then coached by Lute Olson. Iowa, a Final Four team two years earlier, won their first-round game handily, but Idaho won this close game by two points, 69–67 in overtime, and advanced to the Sweet 16 at the West regional in Provo, Utah.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pvhLAAAAIBAJ&pg=6111%2C6045848|newspaper=Spokesman-Review|location=Spokane, Washington|title=Idaho: Next stop, Provo|last=Missildine|first=Harry|date=March 15, 1982|page=15}}[http://www.tomandrodna.com/Iowa_Basketball_1982.htm] {{cite web|url=http://idaho.scout.com/2/239130.html |publisher=Idaho Scout.com |last=Smith |first=Marlin |title=The Monson Era |date=March 2, 2004 |access-date=March 27, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050118210439/http://idaho.scout.com/2/239130.html |archive-date=January 18, 2005 }} There the Vandals met fourth-ranked Oregon State, the #2 seed in the West region. Idaho had defeated the Beavers by 22 points in December at the Far West Classic in Portland, but this time the result was far different, as the Beavers won 60–42. OSU was defeated two days later by the region's #1 seed Georgetown, led by freshman center Patrick Ewing. (Georgetown advanced to the national final, where they lost by a point to North Carolina.)

The Vandals finished the 1982 season at {{winning percentage|27|3|record=y}}, and were ranked as high as sixth in the nation (AP and UPI polls); they were eighth in mid-January, when they were undefeated {{nowrap|at 15–0.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lrBeAAAAIBAJ&pg=2108%2C1890815|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|location=Idaho|title=Unbeaten Vandals continue to climb in both wire service polls|agency=Associated Press|date=January 20, 1982|page=1C}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VZBTAAAAIBAJ&pg=2403,3762516&|newspaper=The Bulletin|location=(Bend, Oregon)|title=Idaho basketball: Now its something to crow about|last=Barton|first=Gene|date=January 20, 1982|page=D1}}}} The 1982 starters Ken Owens ({{height|ft=6|in=0}}) and Brian Kellerman ({{height|ft=6|in=5}}) in the backcourt, with forwards Phil Hopson and Gordie Herbert and center Kelvin Smith, all at {{height|ft=6|in=6}}. Just before their two losses in January, the team was featured in a two-page article in Sports Illustrated.{{cite journal|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1982/01/25/540928/a-case-of-vandalism-in-big-sky-country |journal=Sports Illustrated|title=A case of Vandalism in Big Sky country|last=McCallum|first=Jack|date=January 25, 1982|pages=20–21}} [http://www.govandals.com/PhotoAlbum.dbml?ATCLID=1209325&SPSID=87178&SPID=10346&PALBID=13081&DB_OEM_ID=17100&PAGE_ID=0&ZID=726017 (team photo)] The alley-oop was a frequently used play against man-to-man defenses.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mbBeAAAAIBAJ&pg=5186%2C2965068 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho)|last=Killen |first=John |title=Lob it or leave it |date=January 23, 1982 |page=1B }}

Don Monson was named the Kodak Coach of the Year in Division I in 1982 [http://www.govandals.com/PhotoAlbum.dbml?ATCLID=1209325&SPSID=87178&SPID=10346&PALBID=13081&DB_OEM_ID=17100&PAGE_ID=9&ZID=726001 (photo)] and rumors were rampant that he would jump to a higher league, maybe to struggling Arizona in the Pac-10. That position was filled by Ben Lindsey (who was dismissed after one season, succeeded by Lute Olson of Iowa), and Monson chose to stay for another year at Idaho. With a salary of about $40,000 in 1982 and a one-year contract,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Gf0yAAAAIBAJ&pg=6968%2C7333335

|newspaper=Deseret News |location=Salt Lake City |agency=Associated Press |title=Idaho may give Monson a reason to stay with Vandals |date=March 25, 1982 |page=6G }} an "appreciation fund" was set up by local fans to entice him to stay {{nowrap|in Moscow.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iYBQAAAAIBAJ&pg=7071%2C4307089 |newspaper=Milwaukee Sentinel |title=Idaho fans raise funds |date=March 24, 1982 |page=4, part 2 }}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=k_lLAAAAIBAJ&pg=1621%2C1793794 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review|location=Spokane, Washington |title=Don Monson Appreciation Fund |agency=advertisement |date=March 20, 1982 |page=18}}}} The [https://admin.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17100&ATCLID=1470592 1982 team] was inducted into the [https://www.nmnathletics.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17100&KEY=&ATCLID=1472888 Vandal Athletics Hall of Fame], as was Monson.

{{main|1982–83 Idaho Vandals men's basketball team}}

The 1983 Vandals returned three starters (Kellerman, Hopson, and Smith) and began the season at {{nowrap|12–1,}} repeating as Far West Classic champs in December 1982. Idaho again defeated all four Northwest Pac-10 schools during the regular season, and also won at Gonzaga, then led by legendary point guard John Stockton.{{cite web|url=http://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1983/194 |publisher=Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook|title=Basketball: The Power of Gold|year=1983|page=190}}

Several of the Vandals players had injuries late in the year, and the team finished tied for third in the Big Sky at {{nowrap|9–5,}} and an overall record {{nowrap|of 20–7.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9pdfAAAAIBAJ&pg=5094%2C1698754|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|location=(Idaho)|title=Idaho warms up for Big Sky tourney with rocket performance over BSU|last=Bull|first=Andy|date=March 6, 1983|page=C1}}}} They lost in the semifinals (first round) of the conference tourney at Reno to regular season champion Nevada, 78–73.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_JdfAAAAIBAJ&pg=4280%2C4119665|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|location=Idaho|title=Reno's defense turns the tables on Idaho, 78-73|last=Killen|first=John|date=March 12, 1983|page=1C}} This was followed by a first round loss in the NIT against Oregon State in Corvallis on March 16, ending the Vandals' season at {{winning percentage|20|9|record=y}},{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=g6FfAAAAIBAJ&pg=5163%2C488384|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|location=(Idaho)|title=OSU's strong second half stymies UI|last=Killen|first=John|date=March 17, 1983|page=1B}} and Monson's five-year stint on the Palouse.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iKFfAAAAIBAJ&pg=5308%2C2040256|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|location=(Idaho)|title=Monson chooses challenge at Oregon|last=Killen|first=John|date=March 22, 1983|page=C1}}

Don Monson became a cult hero in the Moscow community in the early 1980s, bringing championship status to a university that had long struggled in both football and basketball.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=s-0vAAAAIBAJ&pg=3397%2C3367820 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |title=Don Monson, a breaker of molds |date=March 22, 1983 |page=19 }} He was well known for his anguished expressions and contorted body language while on the Idaho sideline, which became the subject for an unofficial fan club{{cite web|url=http://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1980/77 |publisher=Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook|title=Monson and his Maniacs|year=1980|pages=12–15, sec. 2}} (and caricature T-shirts). Monson was the biggest thing to happen to Vandal basketball since Gus Johnson in 1963 (and his elevated nail at the Corner Club on Main Street). Five years after his departure to Eugene, he was honored with a roast {{nowrap|in Moscow.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3JMrAAAAIBAJ&pg=4636%2C848911 |newspaper=Idahonian|location=(Moscow)|title=Monson agrees to be roasted Duck|last=Pierce|first=Oliver|date=September 8, 1988|page=1C}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5JMrAAAAIBAJ&pg=4132,1144461 |newspaper=Idahonian|location=(Moscow)|title=Monson gets jabs from friend, foe|last=Shelledy|first=James E.|date=September 10, 1988|page=1D}}}}

The Vandal basketball team could outdraw the Division I-AA football team in the multi-purpose Kibbie Dome, and it was ranked by Sports Illustrated as one of the toughest home courts in America. From January 1980 to February 1983, the Vandals won 43 consecutive games on their home floor. (After a shocking loss to Montana in front of a record 11,800 on February 12, the Vandals won their final three home games in 1983.) In Monson's final four seasons at Idaho, the Vandals were {{nowrap|{{winning percentage|51|2|record=y}}}} at home.

Monson's overall record in his five seasons at Idaho was {{nowrap|{{winning percentage|100|41|record=y}},}} and was {{nowrap|{{winning percentage|72|16|record=y}}}} in his final three seasons. His successor was Bill Trumbo, a successful junior college head coach in northern California. Trumbo did not come close to equaling Monson's success, as the Vandals struggled and returned to last place in the Big Sky in each of his three seasons, going {{winning percentage|8|34|record=y}} in conference and {{winning percentage|28|59|record=y}} overall.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lrISAAAAIBAJ&pg=1886%2C1727672 |newspaper=Spokane Chronicle |location=(Washington) |agency=staff and wire reports |title=Decline in support is factor as Vandals fire Trumbo |date=March 10, 1986 |page=C1}} Trumbo lost 21 games at home in the Kibbie Dome and was relieved in March 1986,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AA5XAAAAIBAJ&pg=7008%2C6771028 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington)|last=Devlin |first=Vince |title=Idaho fires Trumbo after three losing seasons |date=March 10, 1986 |page=C1}} succeeded by Tim Floyd.

During the "Monson Era" at Idaho, the neighboring Washington State Cougars were also doing well in basketball under head coach George Raveling, advancing to the NCAA tournament in 1980 and 1983. Monson's Vandals were {{nowrap|3–2}} against the Cougars, winning the final three (in three different cities) to the great frustration of the Cougar Nation and the Pullman community.

The highlight of this series was the final game, in early December 1982, which was the only one played in Moscow. A then-record (basketball) crowd of over 11,000 packed into the Kibbie Dome's south grandstand & expanded temporary bleachers to witness a four-point overtime victory for the Vandals, their 37th consecutive win at home.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-rxeAAAAIBAJ&pg=4182%2C1633153|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|location=(Idaho)|title=Vandals nip Cougars in OT, 62-58|last=Killen|first=John|date=December 5, 1982|page=1B}} Concurrently in Kentucky, the resurgent Vandals football team (under first-year head coach Dennis Erickson) was on the road battling eventual champion Eastern Kentucky in the I-AA playoffs; losing {{nowrap|38–30}} in a game that went down to the {{nowrap|final play.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-rxeAAAAIBAJ&pg=4182%2C1633153 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho)|last=Ramsdell |first=Paul |title=Controversial EKU interception ends Idaho hopes |date=December 5, 1982 |page=1B}}}}

That 1983 Cougar team, led by future NBA guard Craig Ehlo, finished second in the Pac-10 with a 14–4 record, a game behind champion UCLA. The Cougars' non-conference losses were both on the road in early December to Big Sky opponents; Idaho and Montana. The Cougars advanced to the second round in the West regional of the NCAA tournament, losing to #1 seed Virginia by five points, finishing at 23–7.{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/cougars/2003571091_coug14.html|newspaper=The Seattle Times|title=1983 WSU Cougars|last=Condotta|first=Bob|date=February 14, 2007}} After that loss, head coach George Raveling left Washington State to replace Lute Olson at Iowa. With Monson also leaving for Oregon, college basketball on the Palouse went into dormancy. Simultaneous success for both universities in basketball (or any other sport) has yet to recur.

Following the 1983 season, Monson moved up to the Pac-10 conference to coach the University of Oregon Ducks in Eugene.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=s-0vAAAAIBAJ&pg=5484%2C3368687 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=Monson accepts Duck job |date=March 22, 1983 |page=19}} He took over a {{nowrap|9–18}} team from former head coach Jim Haney. Monson's best record at Oregon came in his first season,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5UJWAAAAIBAJ&pg=6790%2C3921156|newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |title=From big start to a quiet finish|last=Clark|first=Bob|date=March 18, 1992|page=4B}} as the 1984 Ducks went {{nowrap|11–7}} in the Pac-10 and {{nowrap|{{winning percentage|16|13|record=y}}}} overall. Monson went {{nowrap|{{winning percentage|116|145|record=y}}}} in nine seasons, but never made the NCAA tournament. Oregon qualified for the NIT three times, but only won one game, {{nowrap|in 1988.}}

Monson's final year at Oregon was the 1992 season, which ended with a 2–16 record in conference and 6–21 ({{winning percentage|6|21}}) overall.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5UJWAAAAIBAJ&pg=6251%2C3907982|newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |title=Monson era comes to an end|last=Clark|first=Bob|date=March 18, 1992|page=1B}} He was replaced by Jerry Green, who coached the Ducks for five seasons before leaving for Tennessee after the 1997 season. Green was succeeded by Ernie Kent.

Monson's Oregon Ducks never faced the Idaho Vandals during his nine seasons in Eugene. The two teams played the season before Monson arrived (his last at Idaho, in the Far West Classic, a Vandal victory) and the one immediately after he departed in December 1992.

Monson's teams went {{winning percentage|216|186|record=y}} in his 14 seasons as a head coach. His best finish was with his 1982 Idaho Vandals, a #3 seed in the West regional that advanced to the Sweet Sixteen, and spent time in the national polls in the Top Ten. They finished 27–3 without a starter taller than {{height|ft=6|in=6}}.

In December 2004, Gonzaga honored Monson with the second annual "Battle in Seattle Award", presented to an individual who has demonstrated a lifelong contribution to basketball in the Pacific Northwest. [http://gozags.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/120104aaa.html] Marv Harshman was the inaugural recipient a year earlier.

In 1993, Monson was signed to coach the Adelaide 36ers who play in the National Basketball League in Australia. Monson only coached the 36ers for the 1993 NBL season, leading the team to a 14–14 record as the 36ers finished in 7th place, losing their quarter-final series in two games to the defending champion South East Melbourne Magic.

Although the 36ers had improved on their 1992 season record of 11-13 where they failed to reach the playoffs for only the second time since 1984, Monson was not retained as coach of the team and was replaced by former Cal Lutheran head coach Mike Dunlap for the 1994 season.

Monson currently resides in Spokane, as did his former boss and mentor Jud Heathcote, until Heathcote's death at 90 in August 2017.{{cite news |url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2017/aug/28/spokanes-jud-heathcote-long-time-coach-at-michigan/#/0 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |last=Blanchette |first=John |title=Spokane's Jud Heathcote, longtime coach at Michigan State, dies at 90 |date=August 28, 2017}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Start | type = | conference = | postseason = | poll = }}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Idaho Vandals

| conference = Big Sky Conference

| startyear = 1978

| endyear = 1983

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1978–79

| name = Idaho

| overall = 11–15

| conference = 4–10

| confstanding = 8th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1979–80

| name = Idaho

| overall = 17–10

| conference = 9–5

| confstanding = 2nd

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| season = 1980–81

| name = Idaho

| overall = 25–4

| conference = 12–2

| confstanding = 1st

| championship = confboth

| postseason = NCAA first round

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = confboth

| season = 1981–82

| name = Idaho

| overall = 27–3

| conference = 13–1

| confstanding = 1st

| postseason = NCAA Sweet 16

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1982–83

| name = Idaho

| overall = 20–9

| conference = 9–5

| confstanding = T–3rd

| postseason = NIT First Round

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Idaho

| overall = {{winning percentage|100|41|record=y}}

| confrecord = {{winning percentage|47|23|record=y}}

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Oregon Ducks

| conference = Pacific-10 Conference

| startyear = 1983

| endyear = 1992

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1983–84

| name = Oregon

| overall = 16–13

| conference = 11–7

| confstanding = 3rd

| postseason = NIT First Round

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1984–85

| name = Oregon

| overall = 15–16

| conference = 8–10

| confstanding = 6th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1985–86

| name = Oregon

| overall = 11–17

| conference = 6–12

| confstanding = 9th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1986–87

| name = Oregon

| overall = 16–14

| conference = 8–10

| confstanding = 7th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1987–88

| name = Oregon

| overall = 16–14

| conference = 10–8

| confstanding = 5th

| postseason = NIT Second Round

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1988–89

| name = Oregon

| overall = 8–21

| conference = 3–15

| confstanding = 9th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1989–90

| name = Oregon

| overall = 15–14

| conference = 10–8

| confstanding = 5th

| postseason = NIT First Round

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1990–91

| name = Oregon

| overall = 13–15

| conference = 8–10

| confstanding = T–5th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 1991–92

| name = Oregon

| overall = 6–21

| conference = 2–16

| confstanding = 10th

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Oregon

| overall = {{winning percentage|116|145|record=y}}

| confrecord = {{winning percentage|66|96|record=y}}

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record End

| overall = {{winning percentage|216|186|record=y}}

}}

{{NBA coach statistics legend}}

{{NBA coach statistics start}}

|-

| align="left" |Adelaide 36ers

| align="left" |1993

|28||14||14||{{Winning percentage|14|14}}|| align="center" |7th ||2||0||2||{{Winning percentage|0|2}}

| align="center" |Quarter-finalists

|-class="sortbottom"

| align="left" |Career

| ||28||14||14||{{Winning percentage|14|14}}|| ||2||0||2||{{Winning percentage|0|2}}

{{s-end}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/coaches/don-monson-1.html Sports Reference] – college coaching record – Don Monson
• [https://admin.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17100&ATCLID=1456257 University of Idaho – Vandal Athletics Hall of Fame] – Don Monson

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Monson, Don}}

Category:1933 births

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Category:Forwards (basketball)

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Category:20th-century American sportsmen