University of Idaho Athletics

Zac Claus enters his fourth season as the head coach of the Vandals Men’s Basketball team. 

Claus was named the head coach of the Idaho Vandals in February 2020 after acting as the interim head coach of the Idaho Vandals men’s basketball team since July 2019. He first joined the Vandals ahead of the 2015-16 season and spent four years as an assistant.

In the 2021-22 season, Mikey Dixon received All-Big Sky honorable mention recognition after finishing the season as the sixth-best scorer in the league (16.6 ppg). Dixon also led the Vandals to a victory over the Summit League Tournament Champions of South Dakota State, when he dropped 35 points, eight assists and five rebounds. Idaho came into the matchup against the Jackrabbits as 22.5-point underdogs and went on to defeat the NCAA Tournament team by 14. During conference play, the Vandals secured its first three-game win streak since the 2017-18 season, defeating Weber State, Montana and Eastern Washington.

In Claus' first year at the helm, Trevon Allen was named Second Team All-Big Sky after finishing the season second in the conference in scoring. He also reached the 1,000 career points benchmark and ultimately finished the season eighth on the all-time scoring list. The Vandals improved their win total from the season before, including an upset win on the road at Eastern Washington, who would go on to win the league. 

Claus’ first three seasons in Moscow were something special, as Idaho won 62 total games and advanced to a pair of postseason tournaments.  The squad set numerous records on the offensive end, including Victor Sanders moving into second on the all-time scoring list.
 
Before coming to Idaho, Claus spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Nevada, helping in all areas of the program.  Including recruiting, scouting and on the floor coaching, Claus was also in charge of scheduling and overseeing the program’s budget, team managers and equipment.  He also coordinated the team’s academic progress, eligibility and served as the program’s liaison with NCAA Compliance.

During his time with Nevada, Claus was an integral part of the Wolf Pack’s success on the court. In Claus’ 10 seasons, Nevada won four WAC regular season championships (2006, 2007, 2008, 2012) and made six postseason appearances.

Prior to taking over as an assistant, Claus served for six years as the director of basketball operations.
 
Claus spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Sacramento State prior to joining the Wolf Pack.  Before that he spent two years at Portland State, with the first as director of basketball operations and the second as an assistant coach.
 
Claus began his coaching career as the assistant varsity and head junior varsity coach at Nebraska Wesleyan during the 1998-99 season.  He then worked as an assistant coach for Austin College for one season.
 
Education: He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communications from Eastern Washington in 1998, where he finished his playing career.  Claus played two seasons with the Eagles after beginning his collegiate career at Creighton University and the University of Nebraska.
 
Family: Claus and his wife, Toni, have three daughters, Peyton, Morgan and Addison.