It’s been a fall from grace for Andy Avalos with the Boise State Broncos, and as they were sitting at a 5-5 on the season, it was reported that they dismissed Avalos from the program.. After going 7-5 in his first season at Boise State in 2021, Avalos saw great progression from the team as they went 10-4 record with an 8-1 record in the Mountain West Conference.
Now, with the team looking to rebuild their program after a disappointing season, the school will have to search for their next head coach. These candidates would be good fits to help take over the program and bring them back to prominence.
Boise State Head Coach Candidates
Dirk Koetter (Current Job: None)
This might be a wild card pick as head coach, but Dirk Koetter has familiarity with Boise State, having already served as head coach for the program. From 1998 until 2000, Koetter went 26-10 as the head coach of the Broncos before leaving the program for the Arizona State job.
Koetter returned to Boise State just last season as an offensive analyst. Avalos then fired his offensive coordinator and Koetter was named interim offensive coordinator for the rest of the season for the Broncos.
He has coached the majority of these players and knows how to build a successful football team, as he has done for Boise State already. It isn’t known if Koetter would be interested in another head coaching job, but it would make sense to at least interview him for the job.
Tim Banks (Current Job: Tennessee Volunteers Defensive Coordinator)
This is the one coach on the list that is considered an outsider of Boise State, having no real ties to the program. Tim Banks has been a long-time defensive coordinator leading the defenses of Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Illinois, Penn State, and currently, Tennessee.
His defense at Tennessee this season is currently 30th in scoring defense (20.2) and 40th in total defense (340.6). They are also ranked fourth in the SEC in rush defense (113.1).
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Boise State’s defense is ranked last in the Mountain West in pass defense (271.8) and has seen their struggles throughout the season. Bringing in a defensive-minded coach would help, as their offense is already one of the best in the conference.
Banks could help in turning around the defense. That’s something Avalos failed to do despite being a defensive-minded coach himself.
Jeff Choate (Current Job: Texas Longhorns Co-Defensive Coordinator)
The Broncos are familiar with current Texas Longhorns co-defensive coordinator Jeff Choate. Boise State had Choate as an assistant coach from 2006 until 2011, where he coached running backs, linebackers, and special teams during that time.
Boise State interviewed Choate for the head coaching job back in 2020 before they decided on Avalos to be their head coach. At the time, Choate was the head coach of Montana State and would eventually leave for the defensive coordinator job at Texas.
His Longhorns defensive unit is ranked in the top 40 in total defense (337.1) and ranked 21st in points allowed per game (18.4). Texas is currently 9-1 on the season and in the hunt for a Big 12 title and a potential College Football Playoff spot.
Texas’ defense has shown great improvement since he joined the program in 2021 and was at Boise State through the best years in program history under Chris Petersen. Bringing back a winner to the school could be what Boise State needs to be in contention for a New Year’s Six bowl game or even a College Football Playoff appearance.
Bush Hamdan (Current Job: Boise State Broncos Offensive Coordinator)
Current Boise State offensive coordinator and former quarterback Bush Hamdan has had some instability at quarterback this season but has helped the Broncos still rank in the top 30 in total offense. What has helped the offense is they are ranked 21st in rushing offense, averaging 195.9 yards per game.
Hamdan has done a great job developing freshman quarterback Maddux Madsen, who has thrown nine touchdowns to three interceptions this season. Their offensive line has played a big role in allowing just 11 total sacks this season and led the way for the running game.
If Boise State wanted to stay in-house for their next head coaching job, Hamdan could be a good choice to keep some stability within the program. The offense is on the edge of being one of the best in the country, as he would need to find someone to help fix their defense.
Kellen Moore (Current Job: Los Angeles Chargers Offensive Coordinator)
Another former quarterback at Boise State, Kellen Moore, seems like an obvious candidate for the head coaching job with the Broncos.
When the Broncos were looking for a new head coach before the 2021 season, Moore was one of the school’s top candidates. Speculation was at one point, Moore did accept the head coaching job but backed out to stay with the Dallas Cowboys.
The Chargers are currently in the top 15 in the NFL in total offense (341) under Moore, including being ranked tenth in passing yards per game with 239.9.
This is a second chance for Moore to return home to help Boise State build on the success they have on their offense and grow on their success. He would be tasked with finding the right quarterback to lead the Broncos, whether that is Taylen Green or Madsen.