MOSCOW, Idaho – University of Idaho women's basketball head coach Jon Newlee has announced the hiring of Darin Spence as Associate Head Coach.

Spence comes to the Vandals after spending the 2021-22 season at the helm of the Miles Community College Pioneers women's basketball team (NJCAA). He boasts an overall record of 601-377 as a head women's basketball coach over a 30-year span across NCAA Division I and Division II, NAIA, and NJCAA schools.

"I am excited to announce the hiring of Darin Spence as our new associate head coach," head coach Jon Newlee said. "I have personally known Darin for a number of years, first when he was coaching in the juco ranks in Kansas while I was at SMU, and then as a competitor when he was the head coach at New Mexico St. Darin is bringing a tremendous amount of experience to our program, an extremely high basketball IQ, recruiting contacts stretching from Kansas to California, and great energy and enthusiasm to our program. I can't wait for Darin to meet our players and get started!"

Prior to Miles City Spence spent nine seasons coaching the Newman Jets where he is the career leader in wins with 120. Under Spence, the Jets reached the Heartland Conference tournament in six of his seven seasons. 13 players have achieved all-conference honors. He coached two freshmen of the year and one player of the year.

"I am excited and honored to join the Idaho Vandal Women's Basketball program," Spence said. "I've known and respected Coach Newlee for many years. His program is known all over and he does a great job with his vision and day-to-day approach.  I am proud to join such a great coaching staff while lending a hand to further grow the program.  Go Vandals."

Spence also served as the head women's coach at Barton Community College in Great Bend, Kansas. From 2003-2011 Spence was the head coach at NCAA D1 New Mexico State where he is the second-winningest coach in program history (110) and led the Aggies to three straight WAC Tournament Championship games (2006-2008). Before becoming the coach at New Mexico State, Spence was a head coach at Marymount College in Salina, KS, Butler County Community College (117 wins) in El Dorado, KS, and Cowley County Community College (171 wins) in Arkansas City, KS. He also served as athletic director and head men's coach at Colby Community College in Colby KS.
 
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