Rod Jensen led the College of Idaho to its first winning season since 2008 this year, but it wasn't enough to keep his job at the NAIA school in Caldwell.

The school announced Friday that Jensen's contract will not be renewed.

"In the best interest of the program, I believe a change is warranted," Athletic Director Marty Holly said in a statement released by the school.

The Coyotes went 15-14 this season, including a road victory over then-No. 1 Eastern Oregon in February. College of Idaho lost in the Cascade Conference Championships quarterfinals in each of Jensen's three seasons.

College of Idaho went 18-25 at home under Jensen.

"We need to rekindle the magic that this program had during the Elgin Baylor-R.C. Owens days, the Taft Jackson days, and the success we had during the 1980s and 1990s," Holly said.

Baylor, a basketball Hall of Famer, and Owens, who played in the NFL, played together in the 1950s. Jackson averaged a school-record 34.4 points per game in 1964.

Holly coached the basketball team from 1981 to 2000, going 423-156. The Coyotes won the NAIA Division II national championship in 1996.

But the program has not won the Cascade Conference regular-season or tournament title since 2004.

The next coach will be the program's 15th since 1933. College of Idaho had just two seniors on this year's team.

"Our loyal fans have stuck with us through thick and thin," Holly said. "And we will once again restore the proud tradition that is Coyote basketball."

Jensen went 109-93 in seven seasons as Boise State's head coach from 1995 to 2002. He was an assistant coach for the Broncos from 1983 to 1995.

Brian Murphy: 377-6444,Twitter: @MurphsTurph