MOSCOW, Idaho - The University of Idaho welcomed home another Vandal Tuesday afternoon when Leonard Perry was introduced as the school's 27th men's basketball coach.

Perry, 32, played for the Vandals from 1989-91 and was a student assistant coach twice - during the 1992-93 Big Sky Championship season and during the 1994-95 season. He earned his bachelor's degree in general studies with an emphasis in English from Idaho in 1995.

"It's special to be able to come back here," said Perry, who met his wife, the former Christina Erickson, during his first semester at Idaho. "I was married here and both my daughters were born here."

Perry's strong ties to the University of Idaho and the Moscow community made him the overwhelming choice of UI Director of Athletics Mike Bohn and President Bob Hoover.

"Leonard not only knows the intricacies of the game of basketball, but he brings a knowledge of and love of the University of Idaho," Hoover said. "He is a Vandal. He wants to be a Vandal."

Bohn, who in December 1999 hired former Vandal Tom Cable to coach the football team, was taken with Perry's allegiance to the University of Idaho.

"From day one of the search, Leonard expressed a sincere commitment to being a leader on campus and in the community," Bohn said. "He's been groomed as a coach by the best in the business and is well respected nationally. His passion for the University and Vandal athletics comes from within and is second to none.

"We are ecstatic about bringing him and his family back to Idaho and providing him the opportunity to restore Vandal basketball with the enthusiasm, spirit and success that epitomized his days here as a player and student assistant coach."

Perry played for Kermit Davis and Larry Eustachy and was a student assistant for Eustachy and Joe Cravens.

"There are some huge shoes to fill with the long run of coaches who put this program on the map," Perry said. "I have the utmost respect for the coaches who came before me.

"I know it will take some time to get the program back where we want it, but I'm excited about the opportunity."

Perry's experience as a player at Idaho - through the transition from Davis to Eustachy - give him first-hand knowledge of what the Vandals are feeling now as players.

"It's a scary period in your life," Perry said. "I can certainly relate to it, but I can only leave them with my experience. The great things that have happened in my life have happened because I gave coach Eustachy a chance. I hope they give us a chance."

Perry's playing career with the Vandals began in 1989 when he transferred to Idaho from McClennan (Texas) Junior College where he earned recognition as one of the nation's top junior college players.

He averaged 3.1 points as a junior and 7.0 points as a senior. His fort's, however, were as a tenacious defender and as the team's floor leader. He had 99 assists as a senior and 28 in a reserve role as a junior.

After graduating from Idaho in 1995, Perry followed Eustachy to Utah State University where he was an assistant coach through the 1997-98 season. In 1998, he went with Eustachy to Iowa State and in 1999 he was promoted to associate head coach for the Cyclones.

Perry is a native of Dallas, Texas, and graduated from Kimball High School in 1986 as an honorable mention all-American.

Perry and Christina - a native of Mullan, Idaho, have three children - Keisha Ann, Kayla Corrine, and Justin Leonard. Perry also has a son, Leonard III.

Pending approval of the State Board of Regents, Perry will sign a three-year contract with rollover options.