1989 Idaho Vandals football team

1989 Idaho Vandals football
Big Sky champion
ConferenceBig Sky Conference
Record9–3 (8–0 Big Sky)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorDan Cozzetto (1st season)
Defensive coordinatorGordon Shaw (1st season)
Home stadiumKibbie Dome
Seasons
← 1988
1990 →
1989 Big Sky Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. T–4 Idaho $^ 8 0 0 9 3 0
No. 6 Montana ^ 7 1 0 11 3 0
No. 19 Nevada 5 3 0 7 4 0
Boise State 5 3 0 6 5 0
Eastern Washington 4 4 0 4 6 0
Northern Arizona 2 6 0 3 8 0
Montana State 2 6 0 4 7 0
Idaho State 2 6 0 3 7 0
Weber State 1 7 0 3 8 0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant
Rankings from NCAA Division I-AA Poll

The 1989 Idaho Vandals football team represented the University of Idaho in the 1989 NCAA Division I-AA football season. The Vandals, led by first-year head coach John L. Smith, were members of the Big Sky Conference and played their home games at the Kibbie Dome, an indoor facility on campus in Moscow, Idaho.

The Vandals won their third consecutive conference title (fourth in five years), and made the I-AA playoffs for the fifth consecutive season, under a third head coach. Led by senior All-American quarterback John Friesz, Idaho finished the regular season at 9–2 and 8–0 in the Big Sky.

Hired in early January, Smith had been the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Idaho for four seasons (198285), all under Dennis Erickson, then went with him in the same capacity to Wyoming and Washington State.[1][2]

  1. ^ Meehan, Jim (January 3, 1989). "Smith no newcomer to UI football". Idahonian. (Moscow). p. 7A.
  2. ^ Boling, Dave (January 4, 1989). "Vandals make it official: Smith". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. C1.