Boise State LBs coach Andy Avalos promoted to defensive coordinator
Highly regarded Boise State linebackers coach Andy Avalos has been promoted to defensive coordinator by Broncos coach Bryan Harsin.
A rising star in coaching circles and a respected recruiter, Avalos has coached Boise State’s linebackers the past two seasons after being the program’s defensive line coach for two years. He replaces former defensive coordinator Marcel Yates, who left this week after two seasons for the same position at Arizona.
With the 35-year-old Avalos, the Broncos were 12th in the FBS this past season in total defense (318.3 yards per game) and 18th in scoring defense (20.2 points per game). They were also fifth nationally in turnovers gained (31), the same number they also had in 2014 when they ranked ninth in that category.
During Avalos’s two seasons coaching Boise State’s linebackers, the unit had 10 fumble recoveries, eight interceptions and forced eight fumbles. While in charge of the defensive line, he had five players earn All-Mountain West accolades.
Avalos returned to Boise State, his alma mater, after he was Sacramento State’s linebackers coach in 2011 following his two seasons as Nebraska-Kearney’s defensive line coach. He was a defensive graduate assistant at Colorado from ’06–08 and got his start in coaching at high school alma mater, Corona (Calif.) High in ’05.
He was a standout linebacker for Boise State from 2001–04, twice earning All-Western Athletic Conference honors, and is among the program’s all-time leading tacklers.
Boise State went 9–4 this season, including a 55–7 victory over Northern Illinois in last month’s Poinsettia Bowl.
Harsin has a 21–6 record in his two seasons with the Broncos.
