The National Football Foundation announced on Wednesday, Jan. 14 Boise State legend Chris Petersen was named to this year’s College Football Hall of Fame class.
Petersen is one of four coaches and 18 players set to be officially inducted at the annual NFF Awards Dinner on Dec. 8 in Las Vegas.
Petersen served as Boise State’s head coach from 2006-2013, leading the Broncos to two BCS bowl wins, the 2007 and 2010 Fiesta Bowls, under his leadership. In 2006 and 2009, Petersen was the recipient of the Paul “Bear” Bryant Award, awarded annually to the national coach of the year.
The former UC Davis quarterback was one of the most influential and prominent figures in Boise State’s success in the late 2000s and early 2010s.
Under “Coach Pete,” the Broncos compiled a 99-12 record, going undefeated in 2006 and 2009 with records of 13-0 and 14-0, respectively. He guided the team to five conference championships and finished the season ranked in the AP Top 10 five times. In 2010, the team ranked as high as No. 2 in the poll.
Petersen’s legacy of dominance as head coach of Boise State football remains evident long after he departed for the Washington job in 2014. During his time as head coach, Petersen regularly scheduled Power Five teams, standing on business and not wavering when it came to major opponents. Like his successors, Petersen consistently developed low-rated, overlooked prep talent into NFL prospects.
Petersen’s blue-collar mentality that he instilled throughout the program is one rooted in humility. His impact lingers on the field and in the culture the program still carries today.
“I really, truly don’t think this award is about me,” Petersen told the Idaho Statesman. “It’s about us, and the people I’ve come in contact with throughout my journey as a coach.”
Before his tenure as head coach, Petersen served as offensive coordinator for the Broncos starting in 2001. In 2003, Petersen’s hiring proved to be pivotal, with the Broncos scoring a school-record 602 points and finishing 13-1.
Petersen’s identity as an offensive-minded coach can be attributed to his days as a quarterback at Sacramento City College and UC Davis, a Division II program at the time.
The Yuba City, California, native coached receivers at his alma mater in Davis shortly after his playing career. In 1992, Petersen had a stint as Pittsburgh’s quarterbacks coach before assuming the same position at Division II Portland State. In 1993 and 1994, Petersen helped the Vikings to the Division II playoffs.
From 1995 to 2000, Petersen coached wide receivers at Oregon, developing three different receivers into 1,000-yard pass-catchers in three separate seasons.
In January 2001, newly-hired Boise State head coach Dan Hawkins hired Petersen, recognizing his coaching excellence.
From 2007-11, Petersen coached quarterback Kellen Moore, who is now widely regarded as the best overall player in program history and the record-holder for most wins by an FBS quarterback.
Petersen and Moore’s almost Belichick-Brady-esque connection was the anchor of Boise State’s success during Moore’s time. In 2009, Moore threw for a school record 39 touchdowns to only three interceptions en route to a 14-0 record and Fiesta Bowl win over TCU. In 2010, Moore was a Heisman Finalist.
Bronco fans today are well aware of the impact that the two had on the program and the university.
“Even though we may get overlooked as a member of the Group of Five, it was Chris Petersen and Kellen Moore that basically put Boise State on the map,” said Boise State junior Josh Brown. “They had that run of going to Fiesta Bowls, hook and ladders and winning those huge games that led BSU to where they are now and the winning culture. To have that recognition of not only Chris Petersen but also Kellen Moore, it’s super cool to see.”
On Dec. 6, 2013, Petersen signed a five-year, $18 million deal to become the head coach at the University of Washington.
In 2016, Petersen led the Huskies to one of the best seasons in program history. The team finished 12-2, won the Pac-12 Championship, and clinched a College Football Playoff berth. In their New Year’s Eve contest against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Peach Bowl, the Huskies fell 24-7.
Petersen stepped down as head coach after the 2019 season, concluding his esteemed and accomplished coaching career. He was hired by Fox Sports as a college football analyst ahead of the 2021 season.
The legendary Boise State head coach, who has publicly stated that he still watches every Boise State football game, was assured by then-athletic director Gene Bleymaier at the time of his promotion that he would be given every resource possible for success.
The backing that Petersen received from the administration as head coach was more than repaid by Coach Pete, who gave them in return nothing short of a winning, unwaveringly gritty football program.
“He knew what he was getting into. He knew the support we had at Boise,” Bleymaier said. “He knew that we were going to give him the tools he needed to be successful.”
