Boise State’s running backs coach will stay after successful first season on staff
Boise State running backs coach James Montgomery is staying on The Blue, head coach Spencer Danielson announced Monday night.
Montgomery joins offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan and defensive coordinator Erik Chinander on Danielson’s first staff. Danielson was promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach earlier this month.
Montgomery joined the Broncos in January. He is expected to sign a new two-year deal that will pay him $235,000 in year one and $245,000 in year two, according to his material term sheet. The deal is subject to approval by the State Board of Education.
His original two-year deal paid him $195,000 this year and was scheduled to pay him $215,000 next year.
“James Montgomery has done a wonderful job guiding our incredible stable of running backs this past year and I know they will only get better as we head into 2024,” Danielson said in a statement. “He is an energetic coach that always has our backs ready to perform and has shown he can develop backs to compete at the highest level. I’m excited he will be staying on staff here at Boise State.”
In his first season at Boise State, Montgomery mentored Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year Ashton Jeanty, who finished the season with 1,916 yards from scrimmage and 19 total touchdowns (14 rushing, five receiving). He led the Broncos with 1,347 rushing yards, while senior George Holani wrapped up his five-year career with 748 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.
Montgomery, a former running back at Washington State, spent the 2022 season mentoring Fresno State running back Jordan Mims, who finished the year with 1,372 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns, earning first-team All-Mountain West honors.
Montgomery began his coaching career as a quality control assistant at Weber State in 2013. He went on to spend six seasons at Sacramento State, serving first as running backs coach and then adding the title of recruiting coordinator in 2018. He spent the 2020 and 2021 seasons as running backs coach and recruiting coordinator at Cal Poly.
Danielson has several more decisions to make about which coaches he will retain: wide receivers coach Matt Miller, offensive line coach Tim Keane, tight ends coach Nate Potter, edge coach Jabril Frazier, cornerbacks/special teams coach Demario Warren and special teams assistant Tyler Rausa.
Danielson also needs to hire replacements for Chinander, who coached the defensive line this year, and safeties coach Kane Ioane, who was announced as Nevada’s defensive coordinator on Monday.
This story was originally published December 18, 2023 at 7:29 PM.
