Boise State has terminated the contract of coach Andy Avalos, it was announced on Sunday. This decision came after Boise State’s 42-14 victory over New Mexico, improving their record to 5-5 for the season and 4-2 in the Mountain West. Despite the recent win, it’s evident that the team’s performance did not meet the expectations of the Boise State leadership.
Spencer Danielson, the defensive coordinator, will step into the role of interim coach for the team.
Jeramiah Dickey, the athletic director of Boise State, expressed gratitude for Avalos’ dedication and effort, saying “Andy will always be a Bronco and we wish him and his family all the best in their next steps.”
Avalos, who returned to Boise State in 2021, served as the head coach following Bryan Harsin’s departure to Auburn. Before transitioning into coaching, Avalos was a standout linebacker for the Broncos from 2002-2004. He then joined Boise State as an assistant coach in 2012, eventually working his way up to defensive coordinator. After a two-year stint as a defensive coordinator at Oregon, he returned to Boise with the aim of revitalizing the program.
Despite a promising 10-4 finish in 2022, the team’s performance in the subsequent season did not meet expectations. The Broncos started the 2023 season with losses to Washington and UCF, followed by overall improvement in Mountain West play. Nonetheless, they find themselves trailing Air Force, UNLV, and Fresno State in the standings, with a 2024 recruiting class currently ranked 69th nationally and third in the Mountain West.
Why fire Avalos now?
Boise State remains competitive in the Mountain West conference after recovering from a challenging start to the season to achieve a 4-2 record in conference play. However, the overall trajectory of the program appears to be on a downward trend. Despite Avalos’ 17-5 conference play record during his tenure, which tied for the best in the conference with Fresno State, the majority of wins came in the previous season. Furthermore, the Broncos’ overall record in 2021 and 2023 was 9-5.
Another concern is that while the Broncos have been consistently strong in the league, the ultimate goal in Boise is to dominate the league and clinch the championship. Boise has not attained this feat in Avalos’ first two seasons and would need significant improvements to achieve it this year. Since joining the Mountain West in 2011, Boise clinched a share of the league title four times in its first nine seasons.
In recent years, teams such as San Jose State, Utah State, and Fresno State have emerged as conference champions, with Boise State finishing as runners-up in the conference title game twice (the 2020 loss to San Jose State occurred under Bryan Harsin).
Towards the end of Harsin’s tenure, there were concerns among Boise State fans regarding the team’s performance. Therefore, it’s not surprising that the decision was made to part ways with Avalos after achieving fewer wins.
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Bryan Harsin |
46-8 (.852) |
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Andy Avalos |
17-5 (.773) |
It’s also important to note that Boise State’s average home attendance of 35,763 this year represents an improvement compared to last season’s 35,121; however, attendance has declined for the last two home games against Wyoming and New Mexico.
