Board Members

Shelly Robson


Associate Director for the Vandal Scholarship Fund

Shelly Robson of Hayden Lake is an Associate Director for the Vandal Scholarship Fund based at University of Idaho Coeur d’Alene for the past 14 years. Shelly is a 1991 graduate of the University of Idaho, is a member of Delta Gamma Sorority and is a former Vandal Scholarship Fund National Board president. Shelly has been involved with Vandal Athletics since graduation and has served on the Hall of Fame Committee since 2006. Shelly and her husband, Dr. Jim Robson were Stadium Builders for the Kibbie Dome renovation project.

Rick Rasmussen


CEO of Northwest Specialty Hospital in Post Falls

Rick Rasmussen resides in Hayden Lake and is CEO of Northwest Specialty Hospital in Post Falls. Rick graduated from Coeur d’Alene High School in 1984 where he played three sports and was part of the 1982 football state championship team. He then went to University of Montana and played football and participated in track and field. Rick’s father coached at CHS for 30+ years was elected to the HOF two year ago. Rick’s wife, Sharyl, was a state champion at CHS in basketball and softball, and their two daughters (Chelsey and Kylie) won state softball championships at CHS. He has been on the Hall of Fame board since 2014.

Joe Dobson


Real Estate Salesman for Coldwell Banker Schneidmiller Realty - Hayden Lake, ID

Joe Dobson, Hayden Lake-Real Estate Salesman for Coldwell Banker Schneidmiller Realty, in Real Estate 47 years (just getting started), he was also a past State Director. He has a Livestock and Cattle background, but all people need lots or land for housing, commercial, recreational or grazing. Graduate of U of I 1966-BS in Animal Science, past Director twice of Idaho Cattlemen's Association, Idaho Beef Council- 6 years and Chairman for 2 years, Co-Captain of Idaho Vandals in 1965, tried out with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and has followed the Vandals since, a member of North Idaho Hall of Fame Committee since 1967. Also Current President of Kootenai Shoshone Farm Bureau.

Tim Ross


Retired educator - Hope, ID

Tim Ross, and his wife Sandy, live in Hope, Idaho and he is a retired educator. He graduated from Sandpoint in 1970 and attended the University of Idaho during 1970-75 where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education. Tim taught for 37 years, including 32 in Bonner County. He coached many sports, including football girls’ basketball and track. He also was an athletic director for 10 years and was the Idaho High School Athletic Association’s Class A-1 Athletic Director of the Year in 1996. He has worked at the state track meet for more than 40 years. Tim has been on the Hall of Fame committee since 2002.

Bert Sahlberg


Works and serves on the Board of Directors for the Warrior Athletic Association

Bert Sahlberg was born and raised in Pocatello and is a 1983 graduate of the University of Idaho with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. He was sports editor at the Argonaut and upon graduation was hired at Lewiston Tribune. He later worked at the Idaho Statesman for nine months and then was hired as the Tribune’s sports editor in 1988 and held the position until 2002. He covered University of Idaho football while at the Tribune and won several state and regional writing awards. He then became an editorial writer, but left the newspaper business for Lewis-Clark State College in 2003 where he currently works and serves on the Board of Directors for the Warrior Athletic Association. Bert had a Heisman Trophy vote for nearly two decades and does color for LCSC home basketball games. He has been on the Board since 2013.

Chuck Christopher


Owner, Advantage Advertising, Inc. and Digital Barn Productions - Lewiston, ID

Chuck has owned Advantage Advertising in Lewiston since 1986.  He is a 1984 graduate from the University of Idaho and his firm has amassed a large portfolio of college athletic marketing work including work as the advertising agency for the University Idaho Vandal Athletic Department since 1995.  His company has most recently been recognized for their college football poster designs ranked in the top 15 nationally by BleacherReport.com five times in the last four years including the number one design for the University of Wyoming in 2014.

John Knowles


Owner, Knowles Construction, Inc. - Sandpoint, ID
  • Retired  20 year Sandpoint Senior High School teacher.
  • Retired Sandpoint Senior High School football coach for 26 years.
  • Former Idaho Vandal Football player class of 1971.
  • Idaho Hall of Fame selection committee for the past 14 years .
  • Inducted into Sandpoint High School  athletic Hall of Fame 2007.

John Friesz


Retired - Hayden, ID

John graduated from Coeur d’ Alene high school in 1985. After high school he went to the University of Idaho and played QB for Hall of Fame head coaches Dennis Erickson, Keith Gilbertson and John L. Smith.  The Vandals won 3 consecutive conference championships in 1987, 1988 and 1989.

He was a two-time First Team All-American and three-time Big Sky Conference player of the year. He twice led the nation in passing and received the 1989 Walter Payton Award as Division I-AA’s National Player of the Year. In 2006 he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

In 1990 he was drafted by the Chargers and went on to have an 11-year career in the NFL. An active member in the community, he has hosted golf tournaments benefiting the American Diabetes Association, Spinal Cord Research and is a founding board member for the Kootenai County Police and Fire Memorial Foundation.

He has been on the hall of fame board since 2009.

John and his wife Julie live in Hayden and have three sons; Hunter, Jake and Carter.

Don "Pudge" Almquist


Retired

Graduated from Mullan High School, all conference 3 years in FB and BB, all state senior year, lettered in Basketball and Football at the University of Idaho, Winner of the Most Inspirational Award,Jay Gano Award, senior year in Basketball for the Vandals, taught and coached for 25 years in Wa., Idaho, and Mt., was a school Administration in Mt., Nevada, and Idaho for 17 years. Retired from education in Sept. of 2017.

Steve Leifer


Regional Territory Manager for Universal Athletic Services
  • In the sporting goods industry for 30 years
  • Graduated from St. John High School (WA) in 1984 and was a 3 sport athlete
  • Graduated from Whitworth College in 1988 and played football
  • Wife Paige graduated from CDA HS in 1984 and Whitworth College in 1988
  • Have a daughter Morgan and son Bo.
  • Coached basketball, football, baseball, and softball over the years in the youth sports community.

Larry Schwenke


Retired teacher, coach and administrator, Coeur d'Alene

Larry enjoyed a 35 year career at Coeur d'Alene HS. He coached football for 20 years highlighted by State Championships as an assistant in '82 and '85. As the head coach, his '86 and '87 teams were the State Runners-up. Larry also started the Softball program at CHS, building it into a state powerhouse. He was the Viking's AD from '93 until his retirement in 2007. Larry and Laurie's daughters Ann, Keri and Andi were outstanding student athletes on the high school and collegiate levels. He is a member of both the IHSAA and Idaho Athletic Director's Hall of Fame and was elected to the Idaho Hall of Fame in 2009. He has been a board member since 2016.

Tim Sperber


Principal, Whitman Elementary

Tim Sperber is a 1983 graduate of Coeur d’ Alene High School. Tim participated in football and track at CHS and married Michelle Beyer (CHS Class of 1984) in 1989. Following high school, Tim played football at Western Montana College in Dillon. Tim graduated from the University of Idaho in Education and Washington State University in Educational Leadership. After teaching and coaching for fifteen years, Tim moved to administration and has been employed by the Lewiston School District for twelve years. Tim was the Athletic Director for the district for five years and is the Principal at Whitman Elementary School. Tim and Michelle have two children, Sammy Jo and Dillon. The Sperber’s make their home in Genesee where Tim is a volunteer EMT-B/Firefighter and the Genesee High School Head Football Coach.

Todd Gilkey


St. Maries High School Activities Director/ Fitness Instructor

Todd Gilkey is a graduate of Moscow High School. Todd participated in football and basketball during his high school career.  Todd graduated from the University of Idaho with his Education degree and a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration. 

Todd has been in education for 28 years. He began his career as a teacher, coach and Activities Director at St. Maries High School for 15 years. Todd then moved to Coeur d’ Alene High School for 8 years where he was Assistant Principal/Activities Principal. In 2014, Todd returned to St. Maries High School. 

Todd and his wife KayDee have one son Eli

Darren Malm


P1FCU Business Sales Representative, Lewiston

Darren graduated from Elk River High School in 1986 and attended the University of Idaho where he worked as a student manager for the men's basketball program.  In the fall of 1991, Darren began officiating basketball in District II.  Over the years he has worked 21 IHSAA State Tournaments along with a 15-year career at the NCAA Division 1 level working in the Big West and WAC conferences.  Darren currently serves as the IHSAA supervisor of officials for both the boys and girls state tournaments along with the role of rules interpreter in District II.

Darren and his wife Niki reside in Lewiston and have two children Taylor and McKenzie.

Ken Hobart


Market Manager, Lamar Advertising

Ken was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006. He was a four-sport standout at Kamiah High School and originally attended Lewis-Clark State College in the fall of 1979 to play baseball. He then decided to transfer to Moscow and play for the University of Idaho baseball team. Two weeks after he arrived, UI eliminated the baseball program so Ken decided to walk on the football team. And as they say, the rest is history. Ken went from walk-on to starting quarterback his freshman year running the veer offense. Two years later, Dennis Erickson came in as coach and Hobart went from a running quarterback to a throwing one. He went on to record 9,300 yard of total offense and 79 touchdowns.

Nicknamed the Kamiah Kid, Ken was the Big Sky Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year in 1982 and earned All-America honors. He also led the Vandals to their first I-AA playoff appearance. Ken went on to play in the USFL and CFL where he set the record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 928 in leading Hamilton to a runner-up finish in the Grey Cup in 1985. He was second in the voting for CFL MVP during the season. Ken later had a brief stint with San Diego in the NFL and finished his playing career with Ottawa in the CFL. Ken now resides in Lewiston with his wife Valerie, and they have three children: Zane, Klaree, and TaLaynia. Ken has officiated high school basketball and high school and college baseball games for several years.

Gary Everson


Custom Den Engraving in Coeur d'Alene

Gary Everson attended Coeur d’Alene High School where he was a three-year letterman in both basketball and track.  His senior year he was a co-captain in both sports. He was named to the All American basketball team his senior year in addition to all-league and all-state awards.

Following his 1968 graduation, he attended the University of Idaho, graduating in 1972. He worked in the jewelry and awards business at Everson’s Jewelry for 44 years and currently works at Custom Den Engraving in Coeur d’Alene. Gary and his wife, Barbara of 47 years, have three sons, Joe, David and Brent. For 15 years Gary coached their AAU basketball teams and Little League baseball teams before all three boys began their own high school sports careers.

Katie Ball


Athletic Director and Physical Education Teacher, Potlatch School District

Katie is a 1985 graduate of Potlatch High School and a 1989 University of Idaho graduate. She has spent 29 years as an educator between Bridgeport, WA (3), Kamiah, ID (22) and Potlatch, ID (4). Her coaching career began with assistant volleyball & track at Bridgeport High, and assistant volleyball (22 years at Kamiah) and also five years of coaching the dance team at Kamiah. She spent three years as Athletic Director in Kamiah and the past four years as Athletic Director in Potlatch. She has served as IHSAA Dance Rules Interpreter for District II the past 15 years and is currently Co-President of SHAPE Idaho (Society of Health and Physical Educators). 

Katie is married to Ryan, who also teaches and coaches for the Potlatch School District. Ryan also is a Potlatch High grad and played basketball at College of Idaho. They live in Kamiah and travel to Potlatch during the week. Both Katie and Ryan have been involved in District II athletics for more than 25 years, and regularly volunteer at the 1A/2A/3A state track meet in Boise. They have two adult children, Darian and Kesli.

Mary Gomer


Real Estate Assistant for Coldwell Banker Schneidmiller Realty - Hayden Lake, ID

Mary graduated from Coeur d’Alene High School in 1984 and went on to receive her Bachelor’s degree in Business at Boise State University. Mary is a real estate assistant for Coldwell Banker in Hayden Lake for her father, Joe, who is also on the North Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame board. Mary has worked in the business for almost 20 years. She has two children who played multiple sports through their school years. She currently resides in Post Falls.

Roger Stewart


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