Robb Akey was introduced Dec. 20, 2006 as head football coach at the University of Idaho. Akey, 40, made a short trip to Moscow from Pullman, Wash., where he’s been the defensive coordinator for Washington State University since 2003 and a member of the Cougar defensive staff since 1999.

"Robb brings a tremendous energy and excitement to the program – not to mention a wealth of coaching experience," Idaho Director of Athletics Rob Spear said. "He knows the Palouse. He knows football. He’s passionate about the game and about coaching. Robb’s hiring concludes a very thorough search that drew interest from across the country. With his enthusiasm, depth of experience, and ties to the Palouse, Robb meets all the criteria I set forth when we began this search."

Akey’s energy and enthusiasm were evident at his introductory news conference.

"I’m excited to be at the University of Idaho," Akey said. "I think this a program with uptapped potential. I’m anxious to bring back Vandal Pride."

Akey has served as WSU’s defensive coordinator and defensive line coach for the past four seasons after a four-year stint as the Cougar’s defensive line coach. Prior to coming to the Palouse, Akey spent four seasons at Northern Arizona University where he first was special teams coordinator and linebackers coach (1995) prior to being elevated to defensive coordinator (1996-98).

His introduction to coaching came at his alma mater, Weber State University, where he was the Wildcats’ defensive line assistant (1988) prior to taking over as the defensive line coach (1989-94).

He played at Weber State University where he earned all-conference and honorable mention All-America honors after a senior season during which he became the Wildcats’ career sack leader.

Details of his contract were not made public pending State Board of Education approval.

Coaching experience
1988, Assistant defensive line coach, Weber State University
1989-94, Defensive line coach, Weber State University
1995, Special teams coordinator/linebackers coach, Northern Arizona University
1996-98, Defensive coordinator, Northern Arizona University
1999-2002, Defensive line coach, Washington State University
2003-06, Defensive coordinator/defensive line coach, Washington State University

Personal
Wife: Molly
Sons: Jack and Daniel
Born: July 24, 1966
Hometown: Colorado Springs, Colo.
High school: Wasson High School, 1984
College: Weber State University, 1988

“We had a great relationship working together,” Akey said. “He brings a wealth of experience to this staff. Not only has he been an offensive coordinator at the highest level, our offenses at Northern Arizona were tops in the country. He’s been able to do that at the Pac 10 and other places he’s been.”

Axman’s mark on the Montana program was no different that it was at any of his previous stops. The Grizzlies were 12-2 overall, ranked first or second in every offensive category among Big Sky teams, and advanced to the Division I-AA semifinals.

“I know what he brings to the table in regards to the offense,” Akey said. “He knows what we want to establish here to help us have success in the WAC. It’s going to be an exciting offense that we can take advantage of being in the Dome.”

In addition to NAU and Montana, Axman, 59, had coaching stops at Washington, UCLA, Minnesota, Maryland, Stanford, Arizona, Illinois, Army and Albany State as well as the Denver Gold of the USFL. Along the way, he coached the likes of UCLA’s Troy Aikman, Washington’s Marques Tuiasosopo, Maryland’s Neal O’Donnell, and Travis Brown and Jeff Lewis of NAU.

“I’m real fired up about the wealth of experience he brings,” Akey said. “That’s going to be good for all of us. I’m excited to have him be a part of this staff.”

Axman is a 1969 graduate of C.W. Post at Greenvale, N.Y. He has masters degrees from Long Island University (1972) and East Stroudsburg State (1974). He and his wife, Dr. Marie Axman, have four daughters – Mary Beth, Jaclyn, Melissa and Kimberly. He is a native of Huntington Station, N.Y.

“I’m really excited about what he brings,” Akey said. “He’s sharp. He’s a great recruiter and he’s a great guy.

“He has experience in the system, which wills save us some time.”

Carr, a 1995 graduate of Eastern Washington University and a native of Seattle , joined the Montana staff after a graduate assistantship at the University of Washington . Prior to coaching at Washington , he was a teacher and the head football coach at Garfield High School in Seattle . His coaching career began at Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane , where he coached football and track in 1994 and 1995.

A native of Seattle and a Garfield H.S. graduate, Carr was a standout wide receiver at Eastern Washington University and a four-year letterman there from 1989-93.

He found that person in Mark Criner, most recently coming off a season as linebackers and special teams coach at Minnesota but with experience that not only spans the country but reaches the full spectrum of the game.

“I’m very happy to have Mark with us,” Akey said. “He and our defensive staff will do what I want done.

“I wanted someone with the same aggressive style and who was strong enough to do it.”

Criner’s defenses historically have been ranked among the top in their conferences. In addition to Minnesota, he has stops at Middle Tennessee State (defensive coordinator and secondary), Cincinnati (defensive coordinator and linebackers), Las Vegas Outlaws (defensive coordinator and secondary), Portland State (defensive coordinator, linebackers, secondary and special teams), and Utah State University (linebackers).

After graduating from Boise State University in 1990, Criner spent two seasons as a graduate assistant at Utah State before working his way into a full-time post for two seasons. His father, Jim, was the head coach at Boise State during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

“He’s proven his ability to get it done,” Akey said. “He’s a good fit all the way around.”

Dan Finn

Dan Finn’s career began in the community college ranks before he took a graduate assistantship at a Division I-A school, the University of Utah, to begin the next step.

A 2002 graduate of Northern Arizona University, Finn played professional football for two years before embarking on a coaching career. In 1998, he attended the San Francisco 49ers mini camp and then went to Denver , where he made the practice squad. In 1999, he started at guard for the World Bowl champion Frankfort Galaxy of NFL Europe.

Axman was the head coach at NAU during Finn’s playing days, a time when Akey was on the Lumberjacks’ defensive staff.

“He knows the system,” Akey said of the style of offense he and Axman will install at Idaho. “He knows how to teach the things were are going to do.

“I’m very excited about his addition to the staff.”

Finn began his coaching career at Mesa Community College in 2002, where he worked with the defensive line. He spent the 2003 season as the defensive coordinator at Phoenix College . He took an offensive graduate assistant position with Southern Utah in 2004, working with the centers and guards.

At Northern Arizona, Finn made the NCAA Division I-AA All-America first team in 1996 and 1997. A first-team all-Big Sky selection from 1995-97, he earned honorable mention recognition as a freshman in 1994. He was NAU's team captain as a junior and senior, and its MVP and Offensive Player of the Year in 1997.

Coaching the safeties this fall will be former Idaho linebacker Patrick Libey, 26, who spent last season as a graduate assistant for Akey at Washington State University. Akey was highly complimentary of Libey’s future as a coach but he said Libey’s history as a Vandal is as important.

“One of the things I talked about from the very beginning is I want to build a family here,” Akey said. “We’re bringing part of the family back. He’s a Vandal. He’s an alum. He cares about this place big time. He’s going to put his heart and soul into it.

“He has walked in their shoes. He carries the Vandal pride to work with him every day. That’s going to be an awesome deal for us. Having a Vandal on our staff is going to be a big plus.”

Libey, a two-time captain for the Vandals and a 2004 graduate, finished his playing career with 226 total tackles after starting for three seasons. He is a 1999 graduate of Central Valley High School where he was a standout linebacker and tight end.

Prior to accepting the graduate assistantship at Washington State in the fall of 2005, Libey was the linebackers coach and assisted with special teams at Central Valley for one season and the school’s special teams coordinator and tight ends coach the next year.

“He’s young but he did a great job as a graduate assistant,” Akey said. “He has a burning desire to teach it the right way.”

Libey’s wife’s name is Dawn.

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Jonathan Smith