Davitch replaced the popular Ed Troxel, a longtime defensive assistant and former head coach of the track team. Troxel was asked to resign by the new university president on New Year's Eve, six weeks after his fourth season concluded with a record. The Vandals were the previous season in 1976, for their first winning record in five years. (Troxel, the head coach at Borah High in Boise for its first nine years had been reluctant to accept the position; he turned it down after the 1970 and 1973 seasons, but was ultimately persuaded by the players to accept.)