University of Idaho assistant head football coach and offensive coordinator Kris Cinkovich has retired, according to a press release from Vandal Athletics.
Cinkovich has been on head coach Paul Petrino’s staff during his whole tenure with the Vandals and their relationship spans over four decades.
“Thank you to coach Paul Petrino and the University of Idaho for a great eight and a half years on the Palouse,” Cinkovich stated in the press release. “At the end of May, my wife Joanie and I are retiring and moving back to Las Vegas. We are excited for the next chapter in our lives. We will cherish the time we spent here and the people we met.”
At Carroll College, Cinkovich played as an offensive lineman under Paul’s father, Bob Petrino Sr. Cinkovich became the offensive coordinator at Carroll in 1987 in place of Paul’s older brother Bobby, where he then coached Paul, who was an All-American quarterback for the Saints’.
In 2010, Cinkovich was hired as an assistant on Bobby’s staff at the University of Arkansas, fillings Paul’s position when he left to become an offensive coordinator at the University of Illinois.
“I’d just really like to thank Coach Cink for everything he did for this program,” Paul Petrino stated in the press release. “He’s been here with me the whole time. He worked his tail off, did a great job recruiting, always did everything he could for the players. He was a great mentor, great offensive line coach and did a really good job of coordinating the offense. I just can’t thank him enough. He’s one of my good friends.”
Cinkovich coached 10 all-conference offensive linemen during his time with the Vandals, according to the press release. This includes All-American Noah Johnson, who was the first Vandal to earn the title since Mike Iupati. Several of the players he coached went on to play in the NFL and CFL, and “consistently” helped student-athletes reach graduation, stated the release.
Cinkovich’s coaching career began as the head coach of Las Vegas High School, where he took the team to the 2001 state championship and won three regional titles in nine years. The Wildcats were also listed among the ‘Best in the West’ three times by USA Today.
Cinkovich spent time coaching at the University of Nevada, UNLV and the University of Arkansas before he joined Idaho’s team along with Petrino.
“I wish him and Joanie a great retirement,” Paul Petrino stated. “They can enjoy life, they’ve worked hard for a long time. I’ve always been very close with him and his family, and I wish him the best in everything that he does. I just want to tell him thanks one more time.”
Anteia McCollum can be reached at [email protected]