Throughout his coaching career, Chris Petersen ‘meant the world’ to his programs
Chris Petersen led the Boise State football team to national prominence with an improbable overtime victory against Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl. Nearly 13 years later, that same Petersen brought Bronco Nation back down to earth with Washington’s 38-7 win over No. 18 Boise State in the 2019 Las Vegas Bowl.
In his final game at Washington, Petersen was pitted against the FBS team that gave him his first shot as a head coach. And one more time, Petersen walked away a winner.
“We were excited to come to the bowl game, but when we saw the opponent, I was lukewarm on the opponent just because of all the people and the connections and all those things. But it is what it is,” Petersen said in his postgame press conference. “I was proud of these guys. I really am. … It’s never about one person. It’s just not. It’s about these guys playing really, really well.”
[Related: Emotional loss for Boise State; Instant Analysis: Washington exposes Boise State flaws; Scoring summary]
Washington’s victory over Boise State on Saturday at Sam Boyd Stadium was the 147th in Petersen’s 14 seasons as a head coach, and he finishes with just 38 losses. His career winning percentage of .795 ranks second among active coaches with at least five years of FBS experience. He reached 100 career wins in 117 games, fifth-fastest in major college football history.
With Washington ahead 38-7 with less than 3 minutes left, Huskies players began embracing Petersen on the sideline one by one. An ice bath followed, and the hugs continued in the postgame interactions between the teams.
Petersen’s penchant for winning was bested only by his ability to connect with the players he coached. His “Built for Life” coaching philosophy made him an easy man to play or root for — and the wins only added to his appeal.
Washington defensive back Elijah Molden, the Las Vegas Bowl MVP, said during the postgame trophy presentation that there was no doubt who the Huskies were playing for Saturday.
“It’s a pretty good incentive with (Petersen), and the seniors, too,” Molden said. “Every game’s important, but some games are a little more important. We had a lot of weeks to kind of let this simmer and then we went out there and played well.”
In his eight seasons at Boise State from 2006 to 2013, Petersen was 92-12, including wins in the 2007 and 2010 Fiesta Bowls and five conference titles. He had teams finish Nos. 5, 11, 4, 9 and 8 in the AP Top 25 — the five highest finishes in school history. The Broncos twice finished unbeaten under Petersen — going 13-0 in 2006 and 14-0 in 2009 — and compiled a conference record of 57-6 between the WAC and Mountain West. The 2010 Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year led the Broncos to 10 or more wins in seven of his eight seasons.
As the first two-time winner of the Paul “Bear” Bryant Award (2006, 2009), Petersen helped guide the elite collegiate career of Boise State Hall of Fame quarterback Kellen Moore. Moore, who is now the offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys, set an NCAA record with 50 career wins as a starting QB. His 142 passing touchdowns were the second-most in NCAA history, and his 14,667 career passing yards ranked fifth-most at the time.
In Petersen’s first season at the helm in 2006, the Broncos collected their first undefeated season since 1958, culminating with a 43-42 overtime victory against Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl.
“I think about what he’s meant to a lot of us that are on both sides, and what he’s meant to college football and certainly the reason why a lot of us are in the position that we’re in today,” Boise State coach Bryan Harsin said. “… I’ve got tremendous respect for him, great appreciation for the opportunities that I’ve had because of him. I know what kind of person he is, too.
“… We’re all very proud to have been a part of his staffs and certainly wish him the very best. He is one of the best when it comes down to it. He is one of the best in this profession, and not just wins and losses, but the type of character that he’s put on display for the last (14) years as a head coach for not just our staffs but everybody in college football and football in general.”
The Huskies finished the 2019 season 8-5, but the winning record still could be considered one of Petersen’s least impressive seasons. Washington had won at least 10 games each of the previous three seasons, including a College Football Playoff bid in 2016 and appearances in the Fiesta and Rose bowls the past two seasons. He finished 55-26 overall with the Huskies.
Washington said Petersen will remain involved with the school in a leadership advisory role.
“This guy’s meant the world to me,” said Washington defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake, who will take the reins from Petersen. “He’s changed my life. He’s changed my family’s life and done so much for our players. … I love him, and he means the world to me.”
This story was originally published December 21, 2019 at 11:57 PM.
