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Broncos get their nickel’s worth with new running backs coach hire

By Drew Roberts
Fresno State v Boise State Photo by Otto Kitsinger III/Getty Images

After the Broncos filled their vacant OC and WRs coach vacancies with Eric Kiesau and Matt Miller, respectively...only one position coaching job remained after Lee Marks’s somewhat baffling move to conference rival Fresno State (baffling because Fresno smells). For weeks, there was speculation about which FCS running backs coach or even former FBS head coach would take the reins. Turns out...none of those avenues were ultimately taken as the Broncos announced that Winston Venable will get the keys to the stable.

Surprised? We were a little (okay a lot). Personally, I’ve (platonically) loved Winston Venable since he was knocking heads as a Bronco nickel, and I was over the moon when he returned to Boise to help the Broncos as an academic liaison and player development coordinator, I just assumed his leap to the coaching ranks would be on the other side of the line of scrimmage. That said, position coaches often break in at positions where they don’t have playing experience and Venable is one of the more well-liked and respected faces on the Bronco sidelines by his players, so after the initial “man-we-were-wrong-about-that-one” shock, I’ve definitely come around on the hire. As Harsin himself said in the press release:

“...Winston has given everything he had in every area in which he was capable since stepping foot on campus as a student-athlete...when he rejoined our program following his playing career, it was no different. This is an opportunity he has earned, and I am excited to watch him flourish in his new role.”

Current and former players have already weighed in and the hire is getting high marks (speaking of “high” Marks...did I already tell you where Lee ran off to?). Of course, the name we really trust here is The Slant himself...take it away, Tom (and Shane):

Rounding out the weekend hirings is Anthony Lazard, who will take over as assistant director of football performance (not assistant TO the director...that title is held by Mr. Schrute). Lazard comes to Broncoland from Appalachian State, where he held a similar role. My internet sleuthing tells me he’s also the older brother of current Green Bay wideout Allen Lazard, which is more factoid than anything.

Welcome, Anthony and welcome to a different office, Mr. Venable