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The Boise State Broncos just wrapped one of the most successful seasons in program history. After going 12-1 in the regular season and winning the Mountain West Championship, the team earned itself a three-seed in the College Football Playoff.
Unfortunately, they weren’t able to pull off an upset vs. Penn State in their opener, but that doesn’t minimize the accomplishments on the field. Now, the program must deal with the offseason.
Offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter is stepping away from football after 42 years of coaching. He suggests that he won’t be the only loss the squad has to deal with.
The play caller announced his retirement in a Facebook post that both accused rivals of poaching Broncos‘ stars and pleaded for NIL support.
“Our best players are getting offered between 2 and 10 times what we can offer. We are losing recruits in the portal to schools that are just flat outbidding us.”
Outgoing Boise State OC Dirk Koetter with a message to fans on his Facebook page: pic.twitter.com/xCZdaCdRfu
— B.J. Rains (@BJRains) January 3, 2025
Koetter claims that the team’s top players are being offered anywhere from “2 to 10 times” what Boise State can offer. He doesn’t believe long-term success is attainable without a financial commitment from the fanbase.
“We are losing recruits in the portal to schools that are just flat outbidding us.”
Dirk Koetter made an NIL ask while announcing that retirement. It’s reality in the new world of college football. A team like Boise State is low on the totem pole.
The offensive coordinator suggests that the Broncos will only be a feeder program to larger schools, having the difficult task of identifying under-the-radar prospects, developing their talents, then watching them leave for more lucrative NIL deals. Without money, that won’t change. And unfortunately, the current system involves donors spending their hard-earned cash with no promise of success.
The College Football Playoff offered an incredible contrast that only proved that point. Programs like Ohio State and Oregon have seemingly unlimited funds, spending upwards of $20 million on their rosters in the offseason. You can expect the same next time around.
Boise State can’t match that, and even the spotlight of that CFP appearance won’t help. Dirk Koetter is doing what he can to close the gap.