Chinander Nominated for Broyles Award

BOISE, Idaho – Boise State defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Erik Chinander was nominated for the Broyles Award, presented annually to the nation's top assistant coach.

Chinander is one of four coaches on the staff that has been nominated for the Broyles Award while coaching for Boise State. Zak Hill was a nominee in 2018, Spencer Danielson claimed the honors in 2022, and Dirk Kotter was a semifinalist for the award last season. Tyler Stockton was also honored as a nominee three times at Ball State, earning the recognition in 2020, 2022 and 2023.

Chinander guides a Boise State defense that is currently ranked 29th nationally with 322.5 yards per game. The Broncos have held opponents under 200 yards seven times this season, under 150 yards four times, and have registered three games under 100.

Opponents have struggled passing the ball against the Blue and Orange, with the Broncos allowing only 165.5 yards per game, the 11th best mark in the nation. Boise State has held its opponents to under 200 yards passing in six games and opposing quarterbacks have recorded their season-low against Boise State three times.

Boise State has totaled 20 takeaways on the season, the most since the 2021 season and have had three games with four or more turnovers, the most in a single season since 2015. Boise State is one of five teams nationally with multiple players with four or more interceptions; with four interceptions each, Jeremiah Earby and A'Marion McCoy are tied for 10th in the nation.

Earby is one of three players nationally with multiple interceptions in two separate games, and McCoy is one of nine players in the country that has returned two or more interceptions for touchdowns.

Ty Benefield has also been a standout performer under Chinander's guidance. The junior safety is currently tied with Naeten Mitchell (New Mexico State) for the most tackles in the nation by a defensive back with 85. He is also tied for 10th nationally, tallying 57 solo tackles per game, and has led the Blue and Orange in tackles in all but three contests.

The defensive line has also been stalwart this season, with Braxton Fely (5.0) and Jayden Virgin-Morgan (3.0) leading the team in sacks. Virgin-Morgan also leads the team with 8.0 tackles for loss.

Under Chinander's leadership, the Broncos have had multiple players claim Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week honors for the first time since 2022. Earby has earned the honor twice this season while Boen Phelps won the award on Sept. 29, 2025.

After spending the first three weeks calling plays from the press box, Chinander made the decision to move down onto the field. The results paid off, with the defense improving by over seven points allowed per game (7.2), nearly 100 yards allowed less per game (96.9), and averaging 1.1 more takeaways per game.

Chinander and Boise State will close out the regular season with a 2 p.m. MT game against Utah State on Friday, Nov. 28 in Logan, Utah. The game will be broadcast nationally on CBS.

Players Mentioned

Ty Benefield

Jeremiah Earby

Braxton Fely

A’Marion McCoy

Boen Phelps

Jayden Virgin-Morgan

Boise State Athletics