An atlas could be helpful when connecting the dots for the former Montana quarterback (1985-86) and assistant coach (1991-98) with coaching stints at Flagstaff, Ariz., Lexington, Ky., Waco, Texas, and Boise, Idaho.
“It gives exposure to what you can do and where you can recruit,” said Pease, who is in his first season as assistant head coach at Boise State and his second as wide receivers coach. “Building contacts. That’s what recruiting is all about.”
Pease likely isn’t done climbing that ladder. With Peterson’s star rising (23-2 in two seasons), he could be lured to a more high-profile program, leaving the Broncos’ administration in a familiar position. Peterson’s two predecessors, Dan Hawkins and Dirk Koetter, rode the success of the potent former Big Sky Conference member to larger Bowl Championship Series schools, and both times Boise State found its replacement in-house.
“It is a goal of mine,” said Pease, when asked about becoming a head coach at the college level. “Sometimes you can’t script where you’re going to end up. It has to be the right time and right situation. You have to do what’s best for your family.”
Would the Mountain Home, Idaho, native have any interest taking over at Montana if there was an opening?
“Obviously I would,” said Pease, who maintains a home near Flathead Lake and whose wife, Paula, is from Fort Benton. “I have a lot of loyalty to the school and strong ties to the state. But it’s a touchy thing.”
While the coaching carousel spins, Pease will continue to recruit prospects (he was in Houston during this interview) and help prepare the Broncos (10-2) for East Carolina (7-5) in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl on Dec. 23 (6 p.m. MST, ESPN). The matchup is a far cry from last year when Boise State faced Oklahoma in last year’s BCS Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and handed the Sooners a 43-42 overtime loss to finish the season undefeated at 13-0. Pease said he considers the Broncos’ season a success.
“It’s a not a disappointment at all,” he said. “We were very close to what we achieved last year. It’s different every year. To go out and win 10 games is not an easy thing to do. I think the kids got better as the season went along too.”
At 43, Pease said he is the second-oldest member of the Boise State coaching staff (both coordinators are 30). He said there was a lot of respect and cohesiveness among the staff. Pease praised the work done by offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin.
“Bryan’s a very confident play caller,” Pease said. “He doesn’t need my help. He’s been in the system for four or five years. He may come to me every now and then, but it’s more of an experience factor.”
As for his own coaching influences, Pease cited former Griz head coach Don Read, former Griz assistant Tommy Lee, who just retired from coaching Montana-Western and served as best man at Pease’s wedding, and Hawaii coach June Jones, who was quarterbacks coach for the Houston Oilers (1987-88) who Pease played for briefly.
Pease played at Walla Walla Community College from 1983-84 before transferring to Montana. In 1985, the Grizzlies struggled under Larry Donovan’s newly implemented wishbone offense, going 3-8. Pease threw for 599 yards. He threw for 3,056 yards under Read’s pass-happy attack, leading the Griz to a 6-4 record in 1986.
“(Donovan) was very business-like,” Pease said. “He was a quiet guy who let his coaches do their thing. Read was very hands on and would coach players individually if he felt that’s what it would take.”
Pease, who was taken in the 11th round of the 1987 draft by the Minnesota Vikings, still ranks ninth at Montana in both single season and career passing yards. He graduated from Montana in 1990 with a degree in health and human performance, with an emphasis in social science. He and his wife have one daughter, Halle, and one son, Karsten.
Scott Johnson is a freelance writer in Missoula. If you have an idea for a player to be profiled as the subject of a Where are they now?, please contact him at sjohnson2930@man.com.
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