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Pete Thamel, ESPN
Boise State fired football coach Andy Avalos on Sunday, with the school at 5-5 and in danger of the program’s first losing season since 1997.
“I am grateful for the passion, effort and dedication Andy has given to our community and his alma mater while serving as our head coach,” athletic director Jeramiah Dickey said in a statement. “Andy will always be a Bronco and we wish him and his family all the best in their next steps.”
Dickey named defensive coordinator and longtime Boise State assistant Spencer Danielson as the interim coach.
Avalos went 22-14 in his three seasons at Boise State, including a 10-4 season that resulted in him being named 2022 Mountain West Coach of the Year. At no point during Avalos’ two-plus seasons was Boise State ranked in the Associated Press poll; the Broncos’ 19-year streak of being ranked ended during his first season in 2021.
This season, Boise State is 4-2 in the Mountain West and winless in nonconference FBS games, getting blown out by Washington and falling to both UCF and Memphis. Avalos’ firing comes in the wake of Boise State blowing out New Mexico on Saturday night.
Last year, Boise State reached the Mountain West title game after a midseason staff change at offensive coordinator in the wake of a loss to UTEP.
Under coaches like Chris Petersen, Bryan Harsin and Dan Hawkins, Boise State emerged as one of the sport’s disruptive darlings, threatening the national championship picture, winning three Fiesta Bowls in recent years — 2006, 2009, 2014 — and rising to the top 5 nationally in the Associated Press poll in five different seasons.
Ultimately, Avalos’ performance came up short of the standard he helped build as a former Boise State player (2001-04) and assistant coach (2012-18).
Avalos has strong ties to the school, as he coached or played in 14 bowl games as a head coach, assistant or player. He had a successful stint as Oregon‘s defensive coordinator in 2019 and 2020, which led to him being tabbed as Boise State’s head coach.
Boise State has two games remaining in the regular season, as it has a chance to clinch bowl eligibility at Utah State on Saturday and at home against Air Force.
