8 – 3 0 ▁over ▁North western ▁State ▁in ▁the ▁quarter final ▁round ▁of ▁the ▁play offs . ▁Gilbert son ' s ▁team ▁fell ▁short ▁in ▁the ▁national ▁semif inal ▁round , ▁losing ▁by ▁a ▁score ▁of ▁ 3 8 – 7 ▁to ▁Fur man ▁on ▁December ▁ 1 0 . ▁Following ▁consecutive ▁conference ▁champion ships ▁and ▁adv ancing ▁to ▁the ▁Division ▁I - AA ▁national ▁semif inals , ▁Gilbert son ▁interview ed ▁for ▁the ▁U TE P ▁head ▁co aching ▁position ▁in ▁December ▁ 1 9 8 8 ▁but ▁with d rew ▁from ▁consideration . ▁Days ▁later ▁on ▁Christmas ▁E ve , ▁he ▁accepted ▁an ▁offer ▁to ▁coach ▁the ▁off ensive ▁line ▁in ▁the ▁Pac - 1 0 ▁at ▁Washington ▁in ▁Seattle , ▁Washington ▁under ▁head ▁coach ▁Don ▁James ▁and ▁off ensive ▁coordin ator ▁Gary ▁P inkel . ▁ ▁John ▁L . ▁Smith ▁era ▁( 1 9 8 9 – 1 9 9 4 ) ▁ ▁Washington ▁State ▁def ensive ▁coordin ator ▁John ▁L . ▁Smith ▁was ▁h ired ▁to ▁replace ▁Keith ▁Gilbert son . ▁A ▁native ▁of ▁Id aho ▁F alls , ▁Id aho , ▁Smith ▁had ▁prior ▁t ies ▁to ▁the ▁V and als ▁football ▁program , ▁serving ▁as ▁def ensive ▁coordin ator ▁for ▁the ▁V and als ▁from ▁ 1 9 8 2 – 1 9 8 5 ▁under ▁Dennis ▁Er ick son . ▁Smith , ▁who ▁had ▁no ▁prior ▁head ▁co aching ▁experience , ▁also ▁served ▁as ▁def ensive ▁coordin ator ▁at ▁Nev ada ▁from ▁ 1 9