Boise State defensive backs coach Marcel Yates (Texas A&M) and special teams coach Jeff Choate (Washington State) will leave the Broncos for jobs in Bowl Championship Series conferences, a source told the Idaho Statesman.
Their exact titles are unknown, but Yates is expected to coach defensive backs for new Aggies coach Kevin Sumlin in the Southeastern Conference and Choate is expected to coach a defensive position for new Cougars coach Mike Leach in the Pac-12. Washington State already has hired special teams coach Eric Russell, who like Choate attended St. Maries High in North Idaho.
The two departures will cost the Broncos experience and recruiting ties.
Yates, who played for the Broncos from 1996 to 1999, has spent nine years on the coaching staff. He was the cornerbacks coach from 2003 to 2005 and the defensive backs coach from 2006 to 2011.
Yates has placed five defensive backs in the NFL in the past five years with at least one more (safety George Iloka) expected to get drafted this year.
He also was responsible for recruiting players out of his hometown, Los Angeles, which has been the source of many of the Broncos’ star players — guys like Titus Young, Jeron Johnson and Orlando Scandrick.
Choate has been the Broncos’ special teams coach since 2006, when he became an original member of Chris Petersen’s staff. He also coached the running backs (2006-08), linebackers (2009) and nickels (2010-11).
Under Choate, the Broncos have developed a reputation for dominant and physical special-teams play. He instituted the Hammer tradition, where the player with the biggest hit on special teams is awarded the sledgehammer trophy and leads the team onto the field for the next game.
Choate and departed offensive coordinator Brent Pease (Florida) were the main cogs in the Broncos’ Texas recruiting efforts.
Choate and Yates will be competing in a BCS conference for the first time. Yates’ only other coaching stop was at Montana State.
Choate’s previous college jobs were at alma mater Montana Western, Utah State and Eastern Illinois. He also coached at Idaho high schools for eight years.
