Brian Murphy of the Idaho Statesman has a nice introductory piece on new Idaho Stampede coach Michael Peck, who joins the team after coaching at national high school powerhouse Findlay Prep. ----------------------------------------- A shoot-first, apologize-later guard at Division II Northwood University in Michigan, Peck tried his hand at business out of school. He hated it almost as much as he hated defense and passing. Coaching, he decided, was his calling. Peck spent 17 years in a variety of roles (graduate assistant, video coordinator, head coach) in college and high school programs. He said he wasn’t looking to get to the NBA, but his 157-8 record at national power Findlay Prep in Las Vegas and the six NBA players who came through the program earned him the opportunity. "I never dreamed about it. I never had it pinned up on my wall as a goal," said Peck, the son of a Korean mother and American father. "Yet, I feel like I’m living a dream." The Portland Trail Blazers, who run Idaho’s basketball operations as the D-League team’s lone parent club, hired Peck. He will coach at Blazers’ training camp and implement Portland’s defensive scheme with the Stampede. Idaho opens training camp in November and plays its first game Nov. 28 at Los Angeles. ----------------------------------------- The Stampede named Peck as their head coach last week following a search conducted by Portland Trail Blazers assistant GM Bill Branch and other team executives. The Stampede, now in a single affiliation with the Blazers, released a new black and red logo on Monday. -- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter