Boise State loses offensive coordinator to SEC. Broncos search for sixth OC since 2019

The Boise State football team is in search of its sixth offensive coordinator since 2019.

Bush Hamdan, a former Boise State quarterback who returned to be the Broncos’ offensive coordinator in December 2022, is leaving after just one season at his alma mater to assume the same role at Kentucky, which confirmed the hire on Wednesday.

Hamdan officially replaced Tim Plough, who was fired four games into the 2022 season. Plough was hired by former Boise State head coach Andy Avalos, who was fired last year. Another former Broncos head coach, Dirk Koetter, ran the offense on an interim basis in the 2022 season after Plough’s departure.

Zak Hill was Boise State’s offensive coordinator under Bryan Harsin in 2019, and Eric Kiesau ran the offense in 2020 before following Harsin to Auburn.

Hamdan, 38, was retained by new Boise State coach Spencer Danielson in December. He signed a two-year deal that would have paid him $460,000 this year and $480,000 next year, but it was still pending approval from the Idaho State Board of Education. He made $400,000 last year.

Kentucky’s former offensive coordinator, Liam Coen, made $1.7 million last year. He was hired to be offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week.

“I wish Bush Hamdan the best in his next opportunity, but I know what we are building here at Boise State is special,” Danielson said in a statement. “That leaves us with an opportunity to bring in another great offensive coordinator. Our national search for a new coordinator has already begun and I look forward to finalizing our staff as soon as possible. I’m excited to find another great play caller that will be an additional great mentor for our student-athletes.”

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Boise State’s offense was potent under Hamdan’s direction last season, despite a two-quarterback system that saw former starter Taylen Green and Maddux Madsen splitting snaps. Green transferred to Arkansas in December, and the Broncos brought in former USC quarterback Malachi Nelson.

The Broncos scored at least 30 points in 10 of their final 12 games last fall, including the Mountain West championship contest. They ranked No. 3 in the Mountain West at 32.1 points a game, No. 2 in the conference with 214.9 rushing yards a game and No. 6 with 221.3 passing yards a game.

Hamdan took a pay cut in 2022 when he came to Boise State from Missouri, where he made $550,000 as the quarterbacks coach. His coaching career has also included stops as co-offensive coordinator at Arkansas State and offensive coordinator at both Davidson and Washington. He also coached wide receivers at Florida and spent the 2017 season coaching quarterbacks for the Atlanta Falcons.

Hamdan worked for several well-known former Boise State coaches before joining Avalos’ staff. He was on former offensive coordinator Eliah Drinkwitz’s staff at Missouri, helped run the offense for Harsin at Arkansas State and worked for Chris Petersen at Washington.

He has also mentored some top-end quarterbacks during his career, including former Washington starter Jacob Eason, who was a fourth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, and former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, who threw for more than 4,000 yards in 2017.

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In Boise State’s search for a new offensive coordinator, Danielson could turn to a number of former Broncos.

Former offensive lineman Nate Potter has been on Boise State’s staff as tight ends coach and run game coordinator since 2022, and he just added the title of co-offensive coordinator this year. Former wide receiver Matt Miller, who has coached the Broncos’ receivers since 2020, has experience as an offensive coordinator, having held that job at Montana State in 2018 and 2019.

Danielson also could go a more surprising route and turn to former Boise State offensive coordinators who are currently out of work. Harsin ran the Broncos’ offense from 2006 to 2010 and was known as an innovative play-caller. He was fired at Auburn in 2022 and has since moved back to the Treasure Valley.

Mike Sanford ran the Broncos’ offense in 2014, a season that ended with Boise State beating Arizona in the Fiesta Bowl. It was the last time the Broncos played in a New Year’s Six bowl. Sanford has also been offensive coordinator at Notre Dame, Utah State, Minnesota and Colorado, where he served as interim head coach in 2022. He was also head coach at Western Kentucky in 2017 and 2018.