Earlier in the week, new Boise State head coach Andy Avalos started to announce his staff. It is going to be full of young, energetic coaches that will set the recruiting trail ablaze. On Tuesday, Avalos announced that Spencer Danielson would be the defensive coordinator.
Danielson has been busy this offseason; he was tabbed as the interim coach after Bryan Harsin accepted the job at Auburn. It was also reported that Danielson would join Harsin at Auburn, but those reports were quickly refuted and Danielson wanted to see how the head coaching search would play out. Avalos and Danielson have a history. It was Avalos that brought Danielson to Boise in 2017 as a graduate assistant; he was quickly promoted to a full-time position, coaching the STUD’s in 2018. After Avalos left to Oregon following the 2018 season, Danielson earned the title of co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach.
On the surface, the move appeared to be a no-brainer for Avalos. Danielson is a fast-rising star in the coaching world and will probably be a head coach in the next decade. He will have the luxury of being mentored by Avalos and will also have associate head coach Frank Maile by his side.
Danielson will also bring a certain level of comfort to the players on the roster. He was a favorite of the players, administration, and the community. He is known for being a dynamic recruiter and has developed raw talent like Scott Matlock. I think if you polled Boise State fans asking which assistant they feared losing most from Bryan Harsin’s staff, it would have been Danielson. And it wouldn’t have been particularly close. Danielson just has an aura about him. He’s a motivator; he always seems to be positive, but he makes it clear that he has lofty expectations of his players.
One thing has been clear about Danielson’s approach to the game, his players are going to get to the quarterback. He has coached some of the best pass rushers in the Mountain West in his short time in Boise, including the likes of Curtis Weaver, Jabril Frazier, and most recently, Shane Irwin who finished this past season with six sacks in only seven games.
At this time, Avalos hasn’t stated whether or not their will be any major changes on the defensive side of the ball. Will the nickel still be part of the defense? Boise State runs a multiple defense, not a traditional 3-4. It really depends on the opposition. Avalos and Danielson are known for putting players in the best position to succeed. That might be alternating between a 3-4, 4-3, and sometimes even a 3-3-5 against pass heavy teams. The Broncos showed that they had a ton of depth on the defensive line this past season. Ten players received significant playing time thanks to injuries and COVID related absences.
Danielson played his college football at Azusa Pacific from 2009-2012. He was on the Azusa staff from 2013-2016, and his wife played college volleyball for them as well. Danielson has a lot on his plate this offseason, as he and his wife welcomed their first child into the world.
What do you think about Avalos hiring Danielson as defensive coordinator? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.