[Vision2020] Idaho Hires Former WSU Quarterback Gesser

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of today's (July 1, 2011) Spokesman-Review.

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Idaho hires former WSU quarterback Gesser
Vince Grippi
The Spokesman-Review


PULLMAN – Jason Gesser was always good at reversing his field.

He did it Thursday, when the University of Idaho announced the former
Washington State quarterback had joined football coach Robb Akey’s
coaching staff.

Just a month ago, Gesser resigned as head coach at Sammamish’s Eastside
Catholic High to take an off-field position with his alma mater, a job
that was scheduled to start Aug. 1.

But Gesser’s replacement at Eastside was another former Cougar, Jeremy
Thielbahr, who resigned as Idaho’s running back’s coach to take the spot.

That left an opening in Moscow – a spot Gesser was happy to fill.

“It happened real fast,” Gesser said Thursday evening. “This happened over
the last week or two. There was an opening there and I’ve known Akey a
long time. When he first got the job a few years back (after leaving WSU,
where he was defensive coordinator), I called him and tried to get on his
staff then, but he didn’t have any opportunities for me.

“Now that he did, he called and asked if I was interested and I said yeah.
It kind of went from there.”

Gesser’s job at Washington State would have had no on-field
responsibilities. As UI’s running backs coach, Gesser will be involved in
coaching and recruiting like any other assistant.

Gesser’s recruiting responsibilities for Idaho will include the Northwest
and his native Hawaii.

“He’ll have some influence recruiting in Hawaii as well as the Seattle
area where he is a household name, and all over the Northwest,” Akey said
in a media release. “And obviously he will be a leader and a mentor to not
just the running backs but all the guys on our team as well.”

Not only will Gesser be on the field, he’ll also be picking up a much
larger paycheck, some five or six times more than he would have earned in
the entry-level WSU position, he said. But it wasn’t about the money.

“I basically took the job at Washington State to get a job like the one
I’m taking now at Idaho,” Gesser said. “To be able to kind of fast track,
that really was a great opportunity.”

Gesser said the first people he called when Akey offered the job were WSU
coach Paul Wulff and offensive coordinator Todd Sturdy.

“Coach Wulff was very excited,” Gesser said. “I asked him what he thought
throughout the whole scenario and he said, ‘Hey, it’s a no-brainer. You’ve
got to take this. If you don’t, that would be stupid of you.’ ”

Gesser said that although the WSU position was a dream come true, it
couldn’t compare with the chance Akey offered. He hopes WSU fans will
understand that.

“It’s about the opportunity and about getting into the game and being able
to be with the people I’m going to be with,” said Gesser, who compared
Akey to former WSU coach Mike Price and praised the rest of the UI staff.
“At the end of the day, I hope Washington State fans understand that I’m
not trading anything for anything else. I’m taking an opportunity.

“Hopefully, they can be happy for me and (will) respect and understand
that. Being my ultimate goal is to be a head coach someday, this puts me a
step ahead.”

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Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho
UI '96

"The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
and the Realist adjusts his sails."

- Author Unknown