Idaho hires new defensive line coach

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  Idaho head coach Thomas Ford Jr. replaced defensive line coach Tevita Finau with VJ Malo on Aug. 20, 2026“So Idaho coach Thomas Ford Jr. made the call. He let go of former defensive line coach Tevita Finau and hired a rather young coach, VJ Malo, to lead the defensive line.”
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  Ford cited Malo's recruitment connections in the Northwest“"I just think we wanted someone that was going to really do a good job recruiting the Northwest," Ford said about hiring Malo.”
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  Ford cited Malo's previous coaching success at Portland StateNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.
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  Malo, a former Portland State defensive lineman who set FCS records in 2021, was interviewed among four to five candidatesNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.
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  Idaho's defensive linemen recorded eight sacks in 2025No usable supporting receipt — unverified.
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  Idaho's linebackers recorded seven sacks in 2025No usable supporting receipt — unverified.
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  Garfield-Palouse High School will not field a football team for the 2026-27 season“Gar-Pal is once again unable to field a football team.”
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  Garfield-Palouse High School will not field a football team for the 2026-27 season due to insufficient player numbers“Garfield-Palouse High School’s class of 2026 marked the coming and passing of an era for Viking football. After a spell of dormancy, the program was revived four years ago on the strength of the large and dedicated class of incoming players who would go on to see considerable success before all was said and done. Now, following the ’26 graduation, history has repeated itself as Gar-Pal is once again unable to field a football team. "It came down to a numbers game," Garfield-Palouse athletic director Garrett Parrish said. "We didn’t have enough kids. We were probably looking at six or seven turning out. Last year we had a big senior class — I think we had seven or eight graduate — so that kind of did a number on us, and we don’t have many coming in that play."”
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  Athletic director Garrett Parrish said six to seven players were expected to try outNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.
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  The school will continue a co-op with Pullman High School for interested playersNo usable supporting receipt — unverified.