Courtesy of Boise State
BOISE, Idaho – Spencer Danielson has been named the head coach of Boise State football, director of athletics Jeramiah Dickey announced Sunday. Danielson becomes the 12th head coach in Boise State’s history as a four-year institution.
“I am excited to announce Spencer Danielson as the next head coach of Boise State football,” Dickey said. “I value process over results. As exciting as it was to win the last three games and reclaim the conference championship, from the standpoint of hiring a head coach, it was more exciting to me to hear Spencer’s vision for the future and how he is going to approach the job full time. I am grateful for the work of our search committee to ensure we made the best decision for our student-athletes and Bronco Nation. I am extremely confident Spencer is an elite leader, a man of great substance and a rising star in the coaching profession who will lead Boise State football to great heights.”
“I am so delighted to welcome Spencer Danielson as our next head football coach. From the first time I met him, I saw his powerful positive spirit and love for our student-athletes — something that all of Bronco Nation has now seen. This makes him an ideal leader and role model for our players, both on and off the field,” said Dr. Marlene Tromp, Boise State president. “Bronco football is a point of pride for our entire community, and Coach Danielson has the character and passion to impact the young men on our team and lead our program forward to great heights.”
“I am so honored and excited to be able to stay at home here at Boise State and to keep guiding these incredible young men,” Danielson said. “It is truly a blessing to be here in the Treasure Valley and to lead this program. This place has become home for me and my family. I am incredibly thankful to Dr. Tromp and Jeramiah Dickey for their faith in me to lead the Broncos. When you play together and you love each other you can accomplish amazing things, and we’re just getting started.”
Danielson served as Boise State’s interim head coach the last three games. He guided the Broncos to three wins, including a victory in the 2023 Mountain West Football Championship Game at UNLV Saturday. He is the first interim head coach to lead his team to a conference championship game title in FBS history.
During those three games, the Broncos averaged 38.7 points and over 460 yards of total offense while outscoring opponents 116-49. On Saturday Bose State routed UNLV, 44-20, to win its fifth MW Championship, the most of any school in the league.
Following the conclusion of that game, Taylen Green was named the Offensive MVP while Alexander Teubner received Defensive MVP honors. Green totaled 316 total yards and registered an 80% completion mark, both of which were school records in a conference championship game. Teubner led the team with 10 total tackles – including one for a loss – and recovered a fumble.
Sophomore Ashton Jeanty – the 2023 Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year – recorded his seventh 100-yard rushing game of the season in the conference championship bout, collecting 153 yards on the ground with a touchdown.
Danielson has spent seven seasons at Boise State, including the past three as defensive coordinator and the previous two as co-defensive coordinator. He began his Boise State tenure as a graduate assistant in 2017 before being promoted to a full-time assistant coach in 2018. In each of his three seasons as defensive coordinator Boise State ranked in the top three of the Mountain West in scoring defense, including allowing a league-low 19 points per game in 2021.
This season, Boise State’s defense ranks 17th nationally in sacks, led by Ahmed Hassanein, who has been credited with a sack in nine consecutive games following the MW Championship Game, the longest active streak in the nation. Sophomore James Ferguson-Reynolds leads the nation in punting by nearly two yards per punt and is one of only three punters in the country with multiple 70-plus yard punts. His current season average of 49.6 yards per punt would rank sixth all-time in NCAA history if his season were to end today.
Under Danielson’s direction, Boise State’s defense was ranked sixth in the nation last season while the scoring defense was ranked 15th. In his first season as defensive coordinator, that scoring defense was ranked 12th in the country while the total defense ranked 45th nationally.
Prior to joining Boise State, Danielson spent four seasons coaching at his alma mater, Azusa Pacific. He coached linebackers in his final three seasons and was the program’s recruiting coordinator in 2016. He was one of 30 coaches selected from nearly 200 applicants for the inaugural American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) 30 Under 30 Coaches’ Leadership Institute at the 2016 AFCA Convention, participating in focused, interactive lectures on topics including ethics, financial management, hiring and public safety, leadership and NCAA rules.
As a student-athlete, Danielson registered 190 tackles, including 12.5 for loss, 2.5 sacks and five interceptions from 2009 to 2012. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration from Azusa Pacific in 2012 and 2013, respectively.
Danielson and his wife Raechel have two young daughters, Eleanor and Rosalie.
Boise State will play in the LA Bowl Hosted by Gronk against UCLA on Dec. 16 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. MT/4:30 p.m. PT and the game will air live on ABC. Tickets for the LA Bowl hosted by Gronk are on sale now and range from $55-$175 in Boise State’s allotted areas. The priority deadline will be announced soon.
