ABOUT COACH BLAINE
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Colby Blaine began coaching at the College of Idaho in 2014, initially as an assistant coach. He was promoted to associate head coach before the 2016-17 season and ultimately became the head coach in April 2018. En route to guiding the College of Idaho to the national championship in 2022-23, he helped lead the Yotes on a school record 36-game winning streak and set other program records for wins (36), points scored (3,192), field goals made (1,195), field goals attempted (2,395), scoring margin (22.6), and tied the school record for scoring defense (63.3 ppg). The 36 wins are the most of any other college basketball in the state of Idaho history. In 2021-22, Blaine became the fastest coach in program history to the 100-win mark, surpassing Marty Holly (100-30), Scott Garson (100-35) and Mark Owen (100-43). He guided the Yotes to a then school record 32 wins, eclipsing the previous mark of 31 held by the 1995-96 and 2019-20 teams. In his first season at the helm, his Coyotes opened the season 20-2, climbed to No. 1 in the NAIA Division II Top-25 poll, won the Cascade Conference Postseason Tournament and advanced to the semifinals of the NAIA National Championships. In 2019-20, his squad became the first team to complete an unbeaten CCC regular-season schedule, winning both the CCC regular-season and tournament title and entered the NAIA Division II Championships as the No. 1 ranked team - riding a school-record 25-game win streak before the tournament was canceled due to COVID-19. He joined the Coyote men's basketball program in 2014 as an assistant, assumed the associate head coach role prior to the 2016-17 season, before becoming head coach in April of 2018. In his four seasons as an assistant, the Yotes recorded a 101-36 record, qualifying for four CCC postseason tournaments, winning both the CCC regular season and postseason titles in 2015 and 2018. C of I appeared in three NAIA National Tournaments with Blaine as an assistant - advancing to the quarterfinals in 2015, the second round in 2017 and the semifinals in 2018.
Email: [email protected] |
AWARDS: Named 2020, 2022 and 2023 CCC Coach of the Year; honored as the 2023 NAIA NABC Coach of the Year and 2020 NAIA Division II National Coach of the Year.
HONORS: Blaine has coached 12 All-Americans at the College, including first-team selections Josh Wilson, Aziz Leeks, Talon Pinckney, and Samaje Morgan. Both Leeks and Wilson along with 2021-22 selection Ricardo Time were also named the CCC Player of the Year, while Leeks, Pinckney and Emanuel Morgan, were named CCC Defensive Player of the Year, Drew Wyman and Jake O'Neil were named Newcomer of the Year in 2021 and 2022, respectively. In 2023-24 Samaje Morgan and Straton Rogers swept the CCC special awards earning player of the year and defensive player of the year respectively. O'Neil, Radford, and Wyman also earned spots on the all-CCC teams that season. In 2017-18, the Yotes were the top defensive team in the NAIA Division II, allowing only 64.24 points per game. As a head coach, Blaine has coached 19 CCC All-Academic Team, 1 CCC Scholar Athlete of the Year, 12 NAIA Scholar-Athlete selections, and 1 CSC Acacemic All-American.
PRIOR TO C OF I: Blaine joined the Yotes after spending five seasons as an assistant at the College of Southern Idaho. During his time at CSI, he helped lead the Golden Eagles to three Region 18 titles and the 2011 NJCAA National Championship. Working under coaches Steve Gosar (2011 NJCAA Coach of the Year) and Jeremy Cox (2014 Region 18 Coach of the Year), Blaine compiled a 137-33 overall record and coached over 30 players that moved on to NCAA Division I scholarships - including five NJCAA All-Americans, three Region 18 Players of the Year, and two players who went on to NBA careers (Pierre Jackson and Carrick Felix). In addition, as academic coordinator, Blaine was responsible for a 100-percent graduation rate for student-athletes that competed for two years at CSI.
PERSONAL: Originally from Boise, Blaine graduated from Boise High in 2005. Upon graduation, Blaine attended Blue Mountain CC where he was a member of the men’s basketball team. After receiving his associates degree, he transferred to the University of Montana Western, where he began coaching under Montana High School Hall of Fame Coach Steve Keller. Blaine graduated with a degree in social science in 2009 and earned a masters degree in athletic administration from Idaho State University in 2011. Blaine has coached with Select AAU Program for the past 10 years. The program includes Idaho and Montana's best high school prospects. He also runs Colby Blaine Basketball Camps during the summer.
HONORS: Blaine has coached 12 All-Americans at the College, including first-team selections Josh Wilson, Aziz Leeks, Talon Pinckney, and Samaje Morgan. Both Leeks and Wilson along with 2021-22 selection Ricardo Time were also named the CCC Player of the Year, while Leeks, Pinckney and Emanuel Morgan, were named CCC Defensive Player of the Year, Drew Wyman and Jake O'Neil were named Newcomer of the Year in 2021 and 2022, respectively. In 2023-24 Samaje Morgan and Straton Rogers swept the CCC special awards earning player of the year and defensive player of the year respectively. O'Neil, Radford, and Wyman also earned spots on the all-CCC teams that season. In 2017-18, the Yotes were the top defensive team in the NAIA Division II, allowing only 64.24 points per game. As a head coach, Blaine has coached 19 CCC All-Academic Team, 1 CCC Scholar Athlete of the Year, 12 NAIA Scholar-Athlete selections, and 1 CSC Acacemic All-American.
PRIOR TO C OF I: Blaine joined the Yotes after spending five seasons as an assistant at the College of Southern Idaho. During his time at CSI, he helped lead the Golden Eagles to three Region 18 titles and the 2011 NJCAA National Championship. Working under coaches Steve Gosar (2011 NJCAA Coach of the Year) and Jeremy Cox (2014 Region 18 Coach of the Year), Blaine compiled a 137-33 overall record and coached over 30 players that moved on to NCAA Division I scholarships - including five NJCAA All-Americans, three Region 18 Players of the Year, and two players who went on to NBA careers (Pierre Jackson and Carrick Felix). In addition, as academic coordinator, Blaine was responsible for a 100-percent graduation rate for student-athletes that competed for two years at CSI.
PERSONAL: Originally from Boise, Blaine graduated from Boise High in 2005. Upon graduation, Blaine attended Blue Mountain CC where he was a member of the men’s basketball team. After receiving his associates degree, he transferred to the University of Montana Western, where he began coaching under Montana High School Hall of Fame Coach Steve Keller. Blaine graduated with a degree in social science in 2009 and earned a masters degree in athletic administration from Idaho State University in 2011. Blaine has coached with Select AAU Program for the past 10 years. The program includes Idaho and Montana's best high school prospects. He also runs Colby Blaine Basketball Camps during the summer.
