A 30-Year Ride
Craig Lawson
Boise State University celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15-October 15 by paying tribute to Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced our society.
If you walked into the Varsity Center at Boise State University and asked to speak to someone in charge of the equipment room, you would most likely be introduced to Raul Ibarra. You would be greeted with a smile and a “can do attitude.”
What you might not know is you would also be speaking to an avid guitar player, a passionate soccer coach, and a Taekwondo teacher who owns a 2nd degree black belt in the martial art.
After earning his associate’s degree at Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, Oregon, Ibarra came to Boise State. Now in his 30th year with the Broncos, he looks back on the decision to relocate to the Idaho capital with a big smile.
“I was blessed to be helped by some great coaches,” Ibarra said. “Drake Wallack (men’s basketball at TVCC), Bobby Dye (men’s basketball at Boise State) and Pokey Allen (football at Boise State) all did a lot for me.
“Once in a great while, coach Allen and I would have heart-to-heart talks. I am extremely grateful for the wisdom he shared with me. I went to one of coach Dye’s basketball games and I remember him waving at me. I was just a kid trying to figure out what to do with my life. The fact he helped me to get here has stuck in my mind all these years.”
In his current role as assistant director, athletic equipment operations, Ibarra is responsible for outfitting student-athletes in beach volleyball, men’s and women’s golf, softball and men’s and women’s track & field/cross country.
“We are talking thousands and thousands of pieces,” Ibarra said. “Uniforms, gear, Nike shoes, everything. It is amazing when it comes together.”
When the Broncos host a football game on The Blue, Ibarra’s is responsible for the needs of the visiting team.
“It is very important to me when a team comes here, people feel welcome and are treated with respect. Sometimes, people come back three, four, five years later and still remember me. That is a good feeling.”Raul Ibarra
Ibarra’s impact in the community extends beyond campus. He has been a soccer coach in Idaho for the last 10 years.
“We have won five championships and all the credit goes to my players,” Ibarra said. “I’ve been to England, Finland and all over the United States following some of these kids. One of my players made it to MLS NEXT, which is one of the highest levels for a young kid. It has been a blessing and I am so proud their hard work is paying off.”
Passionate about sports, Ibarra has been practicing Taekwondo for the last 30 years and teaching it in the community for 15.
“We train a few times a week and compete on weekends locally and out of state,” Ibarra said. “It gives me peace of mind. I feel young to keep moving, exercising and working out. What is most rewarding to me is I am making a difference in the community by helping other people.”
When he is not at Boise State, on a soccer field, or taking part in Taekwondo, you can find him playing his guitar. He lists The Beatles as his all-time favorite and loves Led Zeppelin, George Strait and Garth Brooks.
When he is not jamming with his friends, Ibarra finds time to teach guitar to the residences of the Ada County Detention Center.
He completed his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice at Boise State in 1999 and added a master’s in criminal justice administration in 2001. Currently, he is working toward a doctoral in education from Boise State.
“I do not have a job, I have a hobby,” Ibarra said. I wake up with an attitude of gratitude. I come from Mexico, a country that was not very economically well off back then. When I came to America, I saw opportunity.
“The people I work with make a huge difference. When you are paid to do what you love to do, it is not a job. Sometimes when I am home, I miss work. That is how much I like it. I think that is the biggest reason I have been here 30 years. I know the day I retire I am going to cry. In the meantime, let’s keep the vibe going.”