AC Boise signs first player. He’s an Idaho native with 9 years of pro experience
When Blake Bodily’s contract with the Tampa Bay Rowdies expired, the Idaho native had plenty of options for a new soccer club.
Teams around the USL Championship wanted to sign him. He even received interest from a few MLS clubs. But the 27-year-old left wingback decided to return home, becoming the first player to officially sign with AC Boise’s expansion team in USL League One.
“Blake is one of my favorite players that I’ve ever coached,” AC Boise coach Nate Miller said at a press conference Tuesday. “If I wasn’t sitting in this chair, if I was at a different club, I’d try to sign Blake as well.
“I think he’s the best player at his position in all of the USL at left wingback. That’s well-known in the market. And I do believe Blake can still play in MLS.”
Bodily brings one of the most decorated soccer resumes in Idaho history to the expansion club, which kicks off its first game March 7 before its home opener April 4.
He has played nine seasons as a professional, including two years with the Portland Timbers. He made 12 appearances and three starts in 2021 and ‘22 before spending the past three years in the USL Championship, a level above Boise.
Bodily said returning home and stepping down to the third division of American soccer wasn’t an easy decision, but he didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to help found his hometown club.
“It was just taking a step back from my personal ego and saying, ‘It doesn’t matter what level I’m playing at, I’m still able to play soccer,’” Bodily said. “But now here I get to have a little extra pride doing it.
“Being able to play for my hometown club, no matter the level, was something that I’ve always wanted to do. And I think doing it now versus a curtain call later in my career says a lot about the club and how much we’re expected to do well this year.”
Bodily said he signed a three-year contract with AC Boise, a rarity in a league full of short-term deals.
“That really shows how committed I am to the club,” Bodily said. “I want to be here long term. I don’t see myself even leaving after three years. I want to finish my career out here and be a part of this club for a long, long time.”
Bodily attended Eagle High as a freshman and sophomore before joining the Timbers’ academy when he was 15. He made his first appearance as a professional for Timbers 2 in the USL at 17 years old before later starring at the University of Washington, where he was the Pac-12 player of the year and a first-team All-American.
The Timbers signed him to a homegrown contract in 2020, and he became the third Idaho native to play in an MLS game in 2021. The other two were Centennial grad Logan Emory (2006), who made 26 appearances for Toronto FC from 2012-13, and Sun Valley native Joe Cannon, a goalkeeper who played 16 seasons with four MLS clubs.
The Timbers loaned Bodily later that year to San Diego, where Miller was an assistant coach. He signed with the club two years later when Miller became the head coach and enjoyed his best season there, scoring five goals and adding nine assists while starting 26 of 31 games.
He spent the past two seasons with the Rowdies, making 55 appearances while recording two goals and 10 assists.
“It’s pretty unusual that we’re able to bring a player of Blake’s quality to an expansion team in USL League One,” Miller said. “... To get a 27-year-old player in his prime to come to Athletic Club Boise, it’s a big deal.”
AC BOISE HAS SIGNED 15 PLAYERS
Bodily was the first publicly announced player to sign with AC Boise, but Miller said the club has signed 15 pros so far. It plans to announce more signings soon and will continue to add players in the run-up to the season.
Miller said signing a player like Bodily showed other free agents Boise planned to contend right away, helping attract more talent to the expansion club.
“There are some clubs in the USL that are basically like marketing clubs that are nice and shiny,” Miller said. “But they are not as serious about winning. So getting Blake, word travels very quickly in soccer circles. You don’t need a press conference for everyone to know that Blake signs at Boise. So that just helps create momentum.”
This story was originally published January 6, 2026 at 12:36 PM.
