As Boise State works on a new deal for Danielson, his request: ‘Take care of our staff’
Boise State football looks set to build upon the successes of 2024 by retaining as much of its coaching staff as possible for the 2025 season.
Boise State athletic director Jeramiah Dickey wants to keep head coach Spencer Danielson at the helm of the program and is working on a new contract for the 36-year-old coach, Dickey told KTVB.
Danielson wouldn’t give much away about a new contract during a press conference Tuesday afternoon but said he’d had “great talks” with Dickey about the salary pool for his coaching staff.
“My biggest focus is this game and to take care of our staff,” Danielson said, referencing the upcoming Fiesta Bowl. “We have the best staff in the nation, and with success comes other schools that want to hire our coaches, no different than they want to get our players.”
In his first full season as head coach, Danielson has led Boise State to a 12-1 record, a Mountain West title and a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff. He took over midway through the 2023 season following Andy Avalos’ firing and was offered the position full time in December 2023.
The Broncos will play Dec. 31 in the Fiesta Bowl against the winner of No. 6 Penn State and No. 11 SMU, with the winner moving onto the Orange Bowl.
Danielson’s five-year contract gives him a base salary of $1.1 million in year one and increases by $100,000 every year, eventually paying him $1.5 million in year five.
Despite not discussing his contract much, Danielson said Tuesday that he would give all of his assistant coaches the opportunity to return.
“I love our staff. I think the world of them, and I’m excited for us and where we’re going to grow to,” Danielson said. “For all of our assistant coaches, I’m going to give them an opportunity to stay here and give them extensions. I believe in that, and that’s something we’re working through.”
Boise State paid its assistant coaches a combined $2,880,000 for the 2024 season, according to USA Today’s salary database.
Who will the coordinators be next season?
Defensive coordinator Erik Chinander is finishing his first season as the Broncos’ defensive coordinator.
Chinander is close to new UCF head coach Scott Frost. The pair worked together at Oregon, UCF and Nebraska, with Chinander serving as Frost’s defensive coordinator at the latter two schools.
Frost has returned to UCF for a second stint as head coach in recent weeks but has hired Alex Grinch from Wisconsin as defensive coordinator.
Meanwhile, offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter signed a one-year contract last year that will expire on Jan. 17, 2025.
Danielson said earlier this year he’d love for Koetter to return for another year, but the 65-year-old coach has given no public indication that he plans to remain in the role.
Danielson said Tuesday that the offensive coordinator for next season has been chosen but will not be revealed until after the season ends.
“I’m going to cross all those bridges at the end of the season,” Danielson said. “I know everybody wants answers. Those answers will become very clear when the season’s over. Right now, we are entering postseason play, and not to hide anything, it is just of no concern right now.”
If Koetter does depart Boise State, running game coordinator and tight ends coach Nate Potter could be a candidate for the position. Potter added co-offensive coordinator to his duties in 2024. Koetter previously said he likes what Potter brings and has allowed him to call plays throughout the season.
