Boise State football loses experienced assistant coach who mentored 1,000-yard rushers
The Boise State football team is in the market for a new running backs coach.
Keith Bhonapha left the program to become the new running backs coach and assistant head coach at Oregon State, Beavers’ head coach Jonathan Smith announced on Friday.
“I’m excited to be able to announce Keith’s addition to our coaching staff,” Smith said in a statement. “He’s an experienced coach and leader who has sent a number of players to the NFL while being a member of championship teams at Boise State and Washington. His leadership, special teams experience and championship resume makes him a very valuable addition to the coaching staff at Oregon State.”
Bhonapha has been a running backs coach for 14 seasons, and has had a 1,000-yard rusher 11 times. Most recently, he mentored Boise State running back George Holani, who ran for 1,157 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.
Bhonapha and Smith worked together at Boise State in 2012 and 2013, when Smith was the Broncos’ quarterbacks coach, and at Washington from 2014 to 2020, when Smith was offensive coordinator.
Bhonapha joined Andy Avalos’ staff in Boise in January 2022. He signed a three-year deal that paid him $125,000 in the first year because Washington was still paying part of his salary. Bhonapha was scheduled to make $320,000 this year and $340,000 next year.
He would have been the third-highest paid assistant on Avalos’ staff this year, behind offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan, who is making $400,000, and defensive coordinator Spencer Danielson, who is making $425,000.
Horseshoe collective to hold event
The Horseshoe Collective announced Monday that it will hold a private event on National Signing Day (Feb. 1) from 5-8 p.m. at Western Proper in downtown Boise for donors who have given at least $5,000.
The third-party philanthropic giving option that launched in September 2022 will introduce donors to featured guests, such as Boise State coach Avalos, director of athletics Jeramiah Dickey, the entire Boise State football coaching staff, several players and The Horseshoe Collective’s board of directors.
“We anticipate this becoming one of our signature annual events with Boise State Football,” Horseshoe Collective Executive Director Joe Nickell said in a statement. “We’re excited to be able to bring our donors face-to-face with student-athletes and charitable causes they are supporting, and show them how much their support is impacting both Bronco Athletics and, in this case, the Boise State football team.”
This story was originally published January 23, 2023 at 4:25 PM.
