The latest addition to Boise State coach Andy Avalos’ staff comes from ‘Last Chance U’
The latest addition to Boise State football coach Andy Avalos’ staff is well known to viewers of the Netflix documentary series “Last Chance U.”
Former Independence Community College head coach Kiyoshi Harris has joined the staff as coordinator of recruiting relations and player personnel, Boise State announced on Tuesday. Harris confirmed the move over the weekend.
On Saturday, he updated his Twitter bio to reflect his new role and posted a photo of the Broncos’ logo painted on the blue turf in Albertsons Stadium on Instagram with the caption “To New Beginnings!”
Boise State also announced the addition of director of recruiting Eli Mandel, who spent last season with Avalos as an assistant director of recruiting with a focus on defense.
“I’ve spent some time with quite a few Broncos in the past, and I’m excited to be part of this tradition and build on what has been accomplished here previously,” Mandel said Tuesday in a press release. “Working with coach Avalos to find the right guys that fit our environment is something I am very much looking forward to. I can’t wait to get to work, and I’m looking forward to meeting Bronco Nation.”
Mandel spent the past five years working at Pac-12 schools, beginning as a student manager and quality control intern at Washington under former Boise State head coach Chris Petersen. Mandel spent two seasons as a recruiting assistant for the Huskies before joining the Ducks last year.
“Since the moment we came back, we’ve talked about being elite in everything we do, and that starts with recruiting,” Avalos said in Tuesday’s release. “We have recruited elite, talented coaches and will do the same with the student-athletes that choose to join this brotherhood. Kiyoshi Harris and Eli Mandel, like everyone else we have brought into this family over the last couple weeks, are first-class men that we are proud to have joining this program.”
Harris was an assistant at Independence under former head coach Jason Brown, who resigned in 2019 after allegedly sending insulting remarks in a text message to a German-born player.
He spent two seasons as Brown’s associate head coach, offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator before taking over in 2019. At Boise State, he replaces former director of player personnel and recruiting Darren Uscher, who followed former Broncos’ coach Bryan Harsin to Auburn.
“This is like a dream come true to be here at Boise State,” Harris said in Tuesday’s release. “I am incredibly appreciative of coach Avalos having given me this opportunity, and to be around such great people. I’ve been in the coaching profession for a while, but have been impressed with the professionalism here, and how they’ve welcomed me into the family. This place has a great tradition, and I can’t wait to get to work on building upon that foundation. Coach Avalos is building something special here in Boise and I’m honored to be a part of it.”
He told KOAM in Kansas on Saturday that it was always his goal to join a Division-I program. He also said he and Avalos are friends, and the opportunity at Boise State was too good to pass up.
“It’s not just being able to coach at a Division I school, it’s about joining a great staff that Andy has put together,” Harris told KOAM. “The staff is full of great people and great coaches. Boise State has been good for a long time. I look forward to joining and helping continue that tradition in any way I can.”
Harris comes to Boise State with 22 years of coaching experience — 16 at the collegiate level — and he was named Kansas Jayhawk Community College Coach of the Year in 2019 after leading Independence to an 8-2 record and a KJCCC championship.
Boise State coaches
Andy Avalos, head coach
Tim Plough, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks
Spencer Danielson, defensive coordinator/inside linebackers
Kane Ioane, co-defensive coordinator/safeties
Frank Maile, defensive line/assistant head coach
Stacy Collins, special teams/edge
Winston Venable, running backs
Matt Miller, wide receivers
Kent Riddle, tight ends
Jeron Johnson, cornerbacks
Tim Keane, offensive line
Kiyoshi Harris, director of player personnel/recruiting
Kharyee Marshall, defensive analyst
Reid Kagy, strength and conditioning
This story was originally published January 31, 2021 at 1:44 PM.
