EL SEGUNDO, California - Idaho State Bengals men's basketball Associate Head Coach Joe White has been named to the 2026 Silver Waves Media Top 100 Most Impactful Mid-Major Coaches and GM's list for the fifth time in his career, continuing a run of national recognition for one of the program's most influential leaders.
"I am honored and humbled to be included on this list by Ryan Silver and his Silver Waves Media team", White shared. "I've got a ton of respect for Ryan as well as so many of these other coaches included on this list. I'm grateful to be around an awesome group of guys every day in our program and to be working with really good coaches."
In its seventh year, the Silver Waves Media list honors assistant coaches and basketball administrators across NCAA Division I who have made a significant impact within their programs. The list has become an industry standard, with more than 40 previous selections advancing to Division I head coaching positions.
The Lost Creek, Oregon native is in his seventh season overall with Idaho State and his third as Associate Head Coach after being hired by head coach Ryan Looney in 2019. During his tenure in Pocatello, White has been instrumental in guiding the Bengals to three of their strongest finishes in more than two decades, including two top-four finishes in the last four seasons.
Most recently, White helped lead the 2024-25 Bengals to a fourth-place finish in the Big Sky Conference earning Idaho State just its third first-round bye in the Big Sky Tournament since the 2015-16 season. The year was highlighted by a program-record six combined individual awards and All-Conference honors, led by Conference MVP, Newcomer of the Year, and Freshman of the Year.
White's impact has extended beyond the court as the program's academic liaison. Under his guidance, the Bengals posted a 3.49 team GPA during the fall semester of the 2022-23 academic year and were recognized as Big Sky Academic Champions after recording the highest team GPA among conference men's basketball programs.
In addition to his on-court responsibilities, White serves as Idaho State's Defensive Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator while also overseeing academics, game scheduling, player development, fundraising, and scouting reports.
White is one of five Big Sky Assistant Coaches to be named as a 2026 honoree, joining Brandon Laird (Idaho), Caden Hoffman (Portland State), Chris Cobb (Montana), and Ryan Lundgren (Eastern Washington).
White's fifth selection to the Silver Waves Media list further underscores his sustained excellence and national reputation, while reflecting the continued growth and stability of Idaho State men's basketball during his seven seasons in Pocatello.
