POCATELLO - Jeff Hough started coaching girls high school basketball at Marsh valley High School eight years ago when a friend told him there was an opening and he would be right for it.

He led the Marsh Valley girls to a state championship during his four years there and has been the head coach for the Pocatello High School girls' varsity basketball team for the past four years. Coaching has become a "passionate hobby" to Hough, who said accepting a new job in recent years has come with the condition that he be allowed to continue.

"At the time I heard about the opening at Marsh Valley, my employer wanted me to be involved in the community," Hough said. "They said they would support me in coaching."

Today, Hough works as a business consultant for Workforce Training at Idaho State University's College Technology, where he coordinates customized training events for local business and industry.

While coaching is now his passion, playing basketball has been a life-long hobby of this McCammon native who played for Marsh Valley High School as a teen. His skills were pretty good, too.

"I had the opportunity to play in college, but I turned it down," he said. "I decided to get married instead."

Hough and his wife of nearly 20 years have four children.

While he loves coaching girls' basketball, he admits there is some desire to coach the boys, but it's for strictly personal reasons.

"I do have a son who is sophomore playing for Poky," he said.

But, Hough also admits he likes the more fundamentally focused game that girls play.

"There is a difference between coaching girls and boys," he said. "Boys and girls have a different set of skills and the game is played a little differently."

Hough and his girls are in the midst of a rough season, currently 2-11 with a 1-1 record in Fifth District play. That first district win came on Thursday at Century when the Indians overcame a 10-point deficit in the third quarter to win 54-46.

He said his teams typically struggle early in the season and tend to peak during January.

So what keeps him focused during a tough season?

"Just the desire to win and nights like (Thursday)," Hough said.

And now for the questions:

ISJ: If you could have dinner with one famous person, who would it be?

Hough: Roy Williams from North Carolina.

ISJ: If you could return to any age, what age would you be and why?

Hough: Early 20s so I could go back and play college basketball.

ISJ: If you could choose a new career, what would it be?

Hough: Assistant coach under Phil Jackson with the L.A. Lakers.

ISJ: Any regrets?

Hough: Not spending enough time in the mountains.

ISJ: What's your favorite appliance?

Hough: Food processor for salsa.

ISJ: If you won the lottery, how would you spend the money?

Hough: Go on a nice vacation, then save the rest so I could retire early and play.

ISJ: What was your favorite vacation?

Hough: Ten days in Hawaii with my wife.

ISJ: What's in your refrigerator?

Hough: Lots of stuff to make Salsa.

ISJ: What's under your bed?

Hough: I don't know, and I don't want to know, it scares me.

ISJ: When was the last time you cried?

Hough: When I sent my daughter off to college.

ISJ: What is your guilty pleasure?

Hough: A big glass of ice cold Pepsi with lemon & a bunch of buttery popcorn.

ISJ: Who is (was) your mentor?

Hough: My good friend Keith Buck.

ISJ: What chores do you do around the house?

Hough: Whatever I am told.

ISJ: Favorite entertainer?

Hough: Alice in Chains.

ISJ: What is your ideal "last meal?"

Hough: Prime rib, corn on the cob & a large ice cold glass of Pepsi followed up with a big slice of blueberry pie a la mode.

ISJ: What's your greatest fear?

Hough: The stuff that's under my bed.

ISJ: What can't you do that you wish you could?

Hough: Pilot an F-15.

ISJ: How would you like to die?

Hough: Not gonna happen, so I don't worry about it.

ISJ: What would you like to be reincarnated as?

Hough: A 6-9 NBA player with a buttery smooth jumper and a 42-inch vertical.

ISJ: What's your motto?

Hough: shoot first, ask questions later.