Idaho colleges notebook: University of Idaho assistant football coach arrested

Idaho defensive coordinator Mark Criner was charged with a DUI early Monday near Meridian, according to Ada County Sheriff's Office reports.

The 42-year-old was booked into the Ada County Jail in Boise around 2 a.m. before posting bond.

Sheriff's officials say Criner was pulled over around 12:30 a.m. at the West Stafford Drive and West Fordham Drive intersection, near the Eagle Road/Chinden Boulevard neighborhood.

Deputies report that Criner failed field sobriety tests and later failed a breath test, which revealed a .127 blood alcohol level, which is in excess of Idaho's .08 limit.

The school has placed Criner on leave with pay pending the outcome of the legal process and the university's internal investigation.

Criner, a native of Fresno, Calif., was hired as defensive coordinator for the Vandals in 2007.

He graduated from Boise State in 1990 and played for the Broncos. Criner's father, Jim, was the head football coach at Boise State from 1976 to 1982.

BOISE STATE TRACK AND FIELD: Simon Wardhaugh was named athlete of the week by the WAC after the senior from Bracken Ridge, Australia, threw 223 feet, 11 inches in the hammer throw at the Bronco Twilight. The throw qualified Wardhaugh for the NCAA West Regional meet and was the top throw in the conference this season and the No. 4 throw in the nation.

COLLEGE OF IDAHO WOMEN'S SOCCER: The Coyotes have signed six players for the 2009 season - Kayla Bigelow (Timberline High), Jessica Ayala (Eagle High), Kirsten Olson (North Idaho College), Quinn Woody (Boise High), Maggie March (Eagle High) and Natasha Rooney (University of Melbourne, Australia).

NORTHWEST NAZARENE SOFTBALL: Four Crusaders were named All-GNAC second team, including senior outfielder Jael Henthorn of Meridian. The others were catcher Arielle Chao, second baseman Vanessa Shaw and shortstop Haley Hevern.

COLLEGE OF IDAHO BASEBALL: The Coyotes fell 9-8 in 11 innings to Cal State San Marcos in the opening round of the Region 1 tournament Vancouver, B.C.

COLLEGE OF IDAHO SOFTBALL: Senior Heather Dixon of Eagle was named the Cascade Conference hitter of the week after she set a conference record with 17 home runs in a season. Dixon also set a school record with 44 RBIs this season.