Boise State DBs now all ‘in one room.’ New assistant coach likes it that way
Boise State football has undergone a pretty good staff shakeup this winter, seeing a few coaches leave to create openings for fresh faces to join the program.
But the biggest coaching reorganization came with the hiring of Terrence Brown, who’ll be the team’s new defensive backs coach and co-defensive coordinator. That is notable because, for many years, Boise State employed separate coaches for safeties and cornerbacks.
Under Brown, those duties will be rolled into one position.
“At my past stops, we’ve kept the defensive backs in one room,” Brown told the media on Tuesday afternoon. “So I’ve been familiar and accustomed to coaching all five positions over the past years.”
Brown arrives at Boise State after four years with the Cal Golden Bears, working as the DB coach and co-defensive coordinator under Justin Wilcox, a former BSU defensive coordinator. Wilcox was Cal’s head coach for nine seasons before being fired last year.
Brown also coached at Washington from 2015-17 under Chris Petersen, and again in 2020-21 under Jimmy Lake.
With the Broncos, Brown will be coaching a group that lost a bunch of experience, with Jeremiah Earby, A’Marion McCoy and Davon Banks all playing their final games in 2025.
Redshirt senior cornerback Jaden Mickey, who transferred from Notre Dame ahead of the 2025 season, is likely a shoo-in starter. Otherwise, the likes of redshirt senior corner Demetrius Freeney Jr., junior corner Sherrod Smith and redshirt junior safety Derek Ganter Jr. will be in the mix to earn significant snaps.
“I think everybody gets a fresh slate. ... They get a chance to get acclimated to my philosophy and the way in which I coach, the things in which I emphasize,” Brown said. “... The fact that they don’t have the playing experience, I try not to let that hang over their head. The best players are going to see the field.”
Brown said he was insistent on coaching the entire DB group at Boise State because he believes it allows players to learn more than just their individual position and to be on the same page as the rest of the defense. He’s also big on flexibility and willing to move players around the defensive backfield, citing versatility as “valuable.”
Brown has coached six defensive backs to the NFL, including two-time Super Bowl champion and All-Pro Trent McDuffie (Kansas City Chiefs) during his time at Washington.
“It enhances their development and their understanding of the game, and it makes sure that we’re all on one accord, we’re all on one page, and we’re all receiving the same message,” Brown said of having the whole group together. “When they’re sitting in the meeting room or out there on the field, everybody’s locked into the same culture points.”
