Never Settled
By Camryn Edens
Morgan Padour's journey at Boise State is a testament to her resilience, character and gratitude she represents on a day-to-day basis. Through the challenges of college, Morgan has redefined what it means to never settle both on and off the field.
Originally from Puyallup, Washington, Morgan Miles was a standout high school soccer player but uncertain about playing at the collegiate level.
Before her senior year, Morgan made a last-minute decision to try and continue her soccer career as she began the recruiting process for Division 1 programs. Boise State head coach Jim Thomas and assistant coach (at the time) Max Weber took notice and invited her out to a camp.
Morgan made her way to Boise, excited for the opportunity to show the coaches her talent. At the conclusion of the camp, she was offered a scholarship to Boise State.
Eager to join the Broncos, Morgan accepted the offer. Little did she know that she would one day solidify her name in program history.
“Morgan was an ultimate competitor at the highest level, but she also had to face some adversities across the years off the field. She has always chosen to respond to that with care and kindness. It's kind of a rarity, to be honest with you. When we got the opportunity to recruit her to Boise State, we knew that we were getting a kid of utmost character and an unbelievable athlete.”Jim Thomas
Morgan’s college experience started off much different than most. She moved to a new state in the midst of a global pandemic, with her freshman season, initially scheduled for the fall of 2020, postponed to the spring of 2021.
Isolated and struggling to connect with her team, she navigated a new life while battling the challenges of remote learning and restricted team activities.
Soccer training and practices were limited to six athletes each. It was hard to build a team relationship when she was only allowed to be around fractions of the squad at a time.
Despite these obstacles, Morgan grew stronger, developing an appreciation for the small things that were taken for granted. She recognized the impact of comradery.
“The pandemic really helped me be grateful for even having training because we didn't get that the first year that I came in. I honestly feel like it really helped my gratitude for the student-athlete experience by working through so many unique challenges.”Morgan Padour
Nine long months after what would have been the start of a traditional soccer season, Morgan finally got to make her collegiate debut on March 5, 2021, at UNLV. Despite it being her first time on the pitch for the Broncos, the eager freshman got to play 67 minutes of her first match.
Morgan’s freshman season came full circle as she scored her first collegiate goal in the last match of the season, which was also against UNLV. In the friendly confines of Boas Soccer Complex, Morgan knocked in the match-winning goal that helped the team earn its fifth victory on the season and end on a high note.
As life slowly returned to normal in November 2021, Morgan helped lead the team on a remarkable run to the Mountain West Championship title match.
Nineteen days before the title match, Boise State sat 11th in the MW standings with little hope of a postseason appearance. On the final day of the regular season, the team jumped to sixth in the standings and clinched the final qualifying spot for the tournament.
The Broncos battled through upsets of San Diego State and Fresno State to make it to the championship match, where they ultimately fell short to New Mexico 2-1 in double overtime.
With all the attention the team was receiving, Morgan's contributions did not go unnoticed, especially by her soon-to-be husband, Kaden Padour.
She jokingly said, “I thank the team for that one because I think they made me look really good in front of him.”
On June 11, 2022, Morgan and Kaden took a big step and decided to get married. Morgan Miles became Morgan Padour, but still continued to embody the same leadership and dedication she had shown throughout her college career.
Yet again, her senior year was marked by another heartbreak, a double-overtime loss to Utah State in the 2023 MW Championship semifinals.
Morgan’s determination grew even stronger, leading her to return for a fifth year, hungry for redemption.
Morgan scored eight goals in her final season with Boise State, surpassing her total for the previous four seasons combined. She became one of the team’s most reliable players, logging 14 full-90 minute matches, the most of any active Bronco.
The team was crowned the 2024 MW Regular Season Champions at the end of October, marking the first time in program history that the Broncos claimed sole possession of the title.
While the team’s 2024 tournament run didn’t go quite as planned, Morgan ended her soccer career with lots to be proud of. She made her mark on the program and tied for most matches played in program history, making 95 appearances during her time as a Bronco.
Additionally, Morgan added a list of awards to her soccer resume, including All-MW Second Team, MW All-Tournament Team and United Soccer Coaches All-Pacific Region Team. Thomas praised Morgan’s impact on the team.
CHAMPS ??
— Boise State Soccer (@BroncoSportsSOC) October 27, 2024
The Broncos clinched a share of the MW Regular Season Championship!#BleedBlue | #WhatsNext pic.twitter.com/VZ4HMJ9IGs
“People of high character and people that don't shy away from the day-to-day work are going to become more integral to the successes of the team. When you talk to the younger players, there'll be a great indication of the influence Morgan had. Watch how Morgan carried herself and how she took on conditioning, video, academics, and community service, let alone just how she walked through the building every single day. She never shied away from the responsibility of being a Boise State athlete, which can be a heavy burden to carry, but she did it with a smile on her face.”Jim Thomas
From a shy freshman to a respected leader, Morgan’s growth was shaped by her coaches, who always told her never to settle.
“I think the coaches really did see every inch of potential in me and they were willing to be whatever I needed,” Morgan said. “They were willing to be the nice person, give a hug when needed, or tell you the not-so-easy things to hear like, ‘Hey, you're not doing great. What do we need to get you to get you back up to where you were?’ And honestly, I feel like that shows that they care the most.”
Through the ups and downs of college, Morgan also used her own experiences to mold herself into who she wanted to be. She says one of the biggest lessons she learned was gratitude.
“I really think that your complete mindset can change when you are so grateful for everything that you get. I think it just made my experience so much more full, especially on tough days where you're like, ‘I don't think I can keep doing this.’ Switching to a mindset of, ‘No, I get to do this. There are girls out there wishing that they were me.’ ”Morgan Padour
Thomas also recognized the gratitude she expressed every single day. He thinks that quality is essential in the Bronco character they try to develop these student-athletes into every year.
“I think that gratitude is the first pillar of everything that we do, so is humility in action,” Thomas said. “She has lived that out for five years, and I think that's the lesson that she'll give to the younger players. You compete with everybody every day for the best version of yourself. That doesn't mean you don't have to be good and kind or that you have to shy away from some of the other responsibilities. You can actually do all of this if you commit yourself to it. She's been the embodiment of this character.”
Another important lesson Morgan learned is staying true to yourself. She kept herself rooted in her faith which always gave her a set of morals to always fall back on.
“Relying on Christ as my cornerstone throughout college was what really kept me anchored. I appreciated the older girls who helped me through all the ups and downs of college and inspired me to really try and be that person for the younger girls on the team now.” Morgan said.
Morgan strived to be someone the younger girls could respect. She lived out the coaches’ motto of never settling and gave it her all every single day. This created a sense of pride for the program Morgan has been representing every day for the past four and a half years.
Thomas also recognized the gratitude she expressed every single day. He thinks that quality is essential in the Bronco character they try to develop these student-athletes into every year.
“I think that gratitude is the first pillar of everything that we do, so is humility in action. She has lived that out for five years, and I think that's the lesson that she'll give to the younger players. You compete with everybody every day for the best version of yourself. That doesn't mean you don't have to be good and kind or that you have to shy away from some of the other responsibilities. You can actually do all of this if you commit yourself to it. She's been the embodiment of this character.”Jim Thomas
Another important lesson Morgan learned is staying true to yourself. She kept herself rooted in her faith which always gave her a set of morals to always fall back on.
“Relying on Christ as my cornerstone throughout college was what really kept me anchored. I appreciated the older girls who helped me through all the ups and downs of college and inspired me to really try and be that person for the younger girls on the team now.” Morgan said.
Morgan strived to be someone the younger girls could respect. She lived out the coaches’ motto of never settling and gave it her all every single day. This created a sense of pride for the program Morgan has been representing every day for the past four and a half years.
On Dec. 14, 2024, Morgan will graduate with an interdisciplinary studies degree, a nontraditional path combining three minors to explore her various interests. She, once again, chose not to settle and chose a degree that she knew she would be proud of.
After graduation, Morgan is keeping her career options open with interests in both marketing and fitness. She plans to continue to embody the drive and character that made her a standout at Boise State.