After record 7 state titles, 16 state trophies, Boise High coach retires
Just like his players, Boise High boys soccer coach Mike Darrow came running and jumping onto the field when senior Alex Hoefer made a game-winning penalty kick in overtime of the 6A state championship last fall.
His joy was infectious.
“The moment when we won state this year and Alex scored that PK, he was running onto the field to go celebrate,” Boise senior center back Tucker Smith said. “He was just so excited, jumping up and down. That is probably the moment that I will remember most, just his pure excitement.”
Darrow kept the spotlight on his players that day, not mentioning in the moment that he planned to step down after 24 years as the coach of the Brave. A Boise High graduate himself and the 1988-89 Idaho Gatorade Player of the Year, Darrow took over his alma mater in 2001, one year after the Idaho High School Activities Association officially sanctioned the sport.
“Every year is a new year, and when you’re enjoying it so much, it’s not like, ‘Oh my God, I’ve been here forever,’ ” Darrow said. “… Being at Boise High, I’ve been super fortunate with great kids and very motivated kids. And then the parent group was very supportive, so it was easy to just focus on coaching and not have to worry about the rest of the stuff.”
Over the course of Darrow’s career, Boise made 21 state tournament appearances, bringing home hardware 16 times. Darrow’s seven state championships (2007, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2020, 2024) are tied for the most by an individual coach in the IHSAA era with Sandpoint’s Randy Thoreson. Darrow’s teams have also earned three state runner-up trophies, four third-place finishes and two consolation titles.
“He just left a winning mentality,” said Bryson Pavel, who was part of the Brave’s 2011 state championship team. “When I was there, we had like 90 kids try out every year. So you just know when you go to Boise High School and you are surrounded by that program, if you make varsity, there’s a good shot here of winning state, and that was the mentality going into it.
“I know my senior year we actually had to make two JV teams because we had so many kids try out. That’s just a testament to the program that he ran.”
Darrow compiled an overall record of 352 wins, 89 losses and 31 ties. He also guided Boise to seven district championships and sent countless players on to college programs.
“Boise has a storied program. It’s kinda like the Yankees,” Rocky Mountain coach Bill Taylor said. “They’ve been a powerhouse in soccer since I first moved here in 2004. They always have the strongest teams.
“When I go up against Mike and Boise, you’ve got to bring it, because it doesn’t matter whether they have a down year or not, they always bring their best game to you.”
While the Brave have developed a reputation for winning under Darrow, his players have come to appreciate the veteran coach for much more than the on-field glory.
“Not only was he a good coach, but he was an amazing person off the field,” Pavel said. “He helped me through a lot of my own personal things, and I know I wasn’t the only one on the team. He was always making sure we were doing good, whether it was with school, with friends, with family, whatever the situation was, because that always translated to the field.
“Not only did he have that winning mentality, but he did truly care about his players and that’s something that I’ve taken with me.”
