Leon Rice is not really sure what led him to approach Chris Chambers in the Boise State weight room that day, but he knows it was no accident.
And that made the random email he received from his dad Kevin two weeks ago even tougher to take.
“Was going through past text messages with my son and came across this,” Kevin Chambers wrote to Rice. “Thought you might not realize what has happened.”
Chambers, a Navy Special Warfare Operator 1st class and a member of SEAL Team 3, died on January 11th along with Special Operator Second Class Nathan Gage Ingram during a nighttime raid on a small ship carrying weapons components to Yemen.
It was 17 months prior that Boise State’s longtime men’s basketball coach met Chris Chambers in the Boise State weight room and asked him to speak to the Boise State men’s basketball team the following day.
The impact of that talk still resonates throughout the Bronco program.
***
Rice was working out in the Boise State Athletics weight room in early September of 2022 when he noticed a group of unfamiliar guys working out across the way. For some reason he went and introduced himself – and to this day he’s glad he did.
Chambers and members of SEAL Team 3 were in Boise for the week to train with the F-15s at Gowen Airfield. Upon learning of his background and the uniqueness of his job, Rice asked Chambers if he’d speak to his team.
A short time later on Sept. 7, 2022, a nervous Chambers spoke to the Broncos on effort, planning, mindset, self-assessment, communication and what it takes to succeed as a team.
For a group that hears plenty of speeches and talks, his stood out.
“His speech was one of the best ones for a guy who had never really done speeches before because of how authentic he was and how real he was for the guys to one able to hear stories that he lived,” Rice said. “It was a real life story about teamwork and he lived that day to day and it was real clear to our guys. It was a talk that resonated with them deeply.”
Forward Tyson Degenhart was one of those in the room that day.
“I just remember more than anything from what he said, how much stronger your brain is than your body,” Degenhart said. “Some of the stories he had of what he had gone through at training, it was just incredible to hear his story.”
Later that night Chambers texted his parents about the experience.
“Hey Mom and Dad, in Boise this week working with F-15s, someone had a connection with the athletic Dept. and we got to work out in their gym,” he wrote. “Head Men’s basketball coach came up to me and asked me who we were…then asked me to speak to the team. Haha.
“I spoke with them this morning for 20 minutes on team effort, mindset and self-assessment. These guys won their conference tournament and played in the NCAA Tournament.”
Rice also texted Chambers that day to thank him for speaking to the team, saying the feedback was “really, really positive” and that his “authenticity” really came through.
Chambers replied, “I appreciate that Coach. I’m excited to follow you guys this year. You run a legit program. If you ever need anything or are in San Diego, give me a shout. Thanks for the opportunity to talk to your guys.”
When Boise State played last season at San Diego State near where he was stationed, the Broncos got Chambers and his wife tickets behind the bench. Chambers wore the Boise State shirt the Broncos had given him when he spoke to the team four months earlier.
After the game Chambers and his wife stayed to talk with members of the staff, where he gave Rice and a few others an official SEAL Team 3 commemorative coin.
Chambers presented Boise State coach Leon Rice with an official Seal Team Three coin when he attended the Boise State at San Diego State basketball game last January. (Photo from Leon Rice)
Later last season when the Broncos had the memorable late comeback at home to beat San Diego State in Boise thanks to 26 points from Max Rice, Chambers texted then-Boise State director of operations Michael Johnson to congratulate them.
“Congrats on the win! Can’t imagine how loud it was haha,” Chambers wrote. “That sequence with the bank shot from Rice was insane. … First win at home vs. ranked opponent since 2015. The stat came up on the tv broadcast.”
The bond between Chambers and the Broncos remained strong.
***
Chambers was a collegiate swimmer, representing the University of Maryland at three straight ACC Championships from 2007 to 2009. His senior year he placed 38th in the men’s 200 free, 46th in the 100 free and 47th in the 50 free.
He enlisted in the Navy in 2012 and graduated from SEAL training in 2014. According to a release from the Navy, he received numerous awards including the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat “C”, three Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medals, Army Achievement Medal. Combat Action Ribbon and other “personal and unit awards.”
Chambers, who was assigned to a West Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit in Coronado, California, deployed in September of 2023 along with the rest of SEAL Team 3 to Bahrain.
On Jan. 11th Chambers and the other members of Seal Team 3 were on a mission off the coast of Somalia at night to seize “a vessel illegally transporting advanced lethal aid from Iran to resupply Houthi forces in Yemen”, according to a statement from the Navy.
While attempting to climb a ladder in rough seas to board the unflagged ship, Chambers slipped and fell into a gap between the vessel and the SEALs’ combat speedboat. Ingram immediately jumped in to try and save him.
According to the Navy, the two were weighed down by heavy weapons, equipment and body armor and quickly disappeared into the Arabian Sea. After an 11-day search, the two were declared dead on Jan. 23rd.
“Nobody wants to bury their child,” Kevin Chambers said. “He was my last male child and he had a daughter, he didn’t have a son, and he’s my only male child so that will be the end of my lineage.
“But what I can tell you is that I don’t have any reservations. My son was doing what he loved. He always wanted to be a SEAL. If he was going to go, that would be the way he wanted to go – doing an operation instead of being in bed sick.”
Chris Chambers spent more than a decade of active duty member of the U.S. Navy SEALs prior to his death in January. (Photo submitted by Kevin Chambers)
The mission resulted in “the seizure of Iranian-made ballistic-missile and cruise-missile components that the Defense Department said were intended for Houthi militants in Yemen,” according to the New York Times.
“It was the first time that U.S. forces had seized Iranian weapons being sent to the Houthi militants since they began launching attacks in November against commercial ships in the Red Sea,” the Times wrote.
In the three weeks since, tributes from friends, colleagues, former college swimming teammates and others who knew Chambers poured in from around the country.
One of Chris’ friends from training told Kevin at his funeral that he named his recently born child Chris in his honor.
“That shows you how tight the bond is between these guys,” Kevin Chambers said. “That his teammate named his son after his fallen comrade.”
Kevin said his son was always willing to mentor and help others, which made him not surprised that Chris agreed to speak with the Boise State men’s basketball team.
“Chris mentored a lot of people,” Kevin said. “He was real big on motivating people and helping them do what they didn’t think they could do.”
Kevin told multiple stories and shared examples which painted a picture of a loving son, husband, father and friend.
“I’m biased because I’m his dad but he was an amazing young man and we’ll sorely miss him,” Kevin Chambers said. “The one thing I kept hearing from people, whether they were SEALs or his teammates from Maryland or just regular people, the first time you met Christopher Chambers, you thought you were his best friend. That’s how he treated you.”
Chambers leaves behind his wife Mikale and 3-year-old daughter Kenny.
Chambers leaves behind his wife Mikale and 3-year-old daughter Kenny. (Photo from Kevin Chambers)
Chambers leaves behind his wife Mikale and 3-year-old daughter Kenny. (Photo from Kevin Chambers)
“He was very humble,” his dad said. “He didn’t attract a lot of attention, but he was a warrior. He was a bad ass Frogman (SEAL), but at the same time he was a loving husband and devoted father. He could come home and be a regular guy, a dad and a husband, and he was very comfortable in those roles.”
“He was a good man. He’ll be sorely missed by everybody. “
***
Kevin went through the text messages on his son’s phone in the days following his death and came across the exchanges with Rice.
“I happened to see that one and I wondered if that coach was still at Boise so I looked him up and sent him a message and explained who I was,” Kevin said.
Rice called Kevin a short time later to express his condolences and to let him know how impactful his talk was – and still is – with those in the room that heard it that day.
Devastated to learn the news, Rice informed the team and explained the story for the newcomers not around 17 months ago for the talk.
“I told them the whole story when his dad reached out to me and how tragic it was on both ends to think about the parents that lost a child and then having to think about the family who lost a husband and a father,” Rice said.
When Rice asked how he could help, Kevin informed him about a fund through the Navy Seal Foundation which will support Mikale and Kenny in the coming months and years.
Rice, other members of the coaching staff and even the players themselves, all quickly made donations to the fund. And he’s hoping others will follow.
“This was a really personal thing for our team because of the contact we had,” Rice said. “And we see an opportunity where Bronco Nation and us, we can make a difference. This family deserves this and needs it and we think we can help.
“We’re making a donation from the members of the Boise State basketball program including the players, they are chipping in, we’re all making donations and if Bronco Nation can find it in their hearts, if they can do something to help this family, it would mean the world.”
Degenhart said it was a no-brainer for players to donate to the fund.
“It didn’t really hit me until I heard about the fund going towards his family and stuff,” Degenhart said. “It was just so sad to hear about. Our hard days are nothing compared to what he had to go through and the sadder side of it, losing his life to protect the freedom of our country.
“It puts things in perspective and we’re just very thankful for those like him that sacrificed their life for this country.”
Added Rice: “One of our maxims is serve and the call to service isn’t when it is convenient, it isn’t when you have all the resources in the world, it’s to always be there to act in any way you can and I think it’s important for our guys to know that. And they are the ones that wanted to step up and help.”
The story has helped put things in perspective for the Broncos, who are fighting for a Mountain West title and aiming to reach the NCAA Tournament for a program-record third consecutive season.
For a team upset about losing a big game or two, Chambers’ story has served as a needed reminder about the bigger picture.
“Our work is meaningful, we’re not minimizing it that way, but there is a perspective to it,” Rice said. “What we do and how hard we play and how we represent, there’s huge value to it and it means a lot to a lot of people who you don’t even know and you don’t even know how it’s impacting them.
“This guy was proud he had the chance to talk to us and proud of our program, he said coach you run a class program, and those things matter and I want our guys to understand the way they represent and the way they are how they are is really important and makes a difference.”
Boise State (16-8, 7-4 MW) hosts Fresno State on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at ExtraMile Arena. The Broncos are coming off back-to-back road losses but have used the past week to regroup and recharge for the stretch run. It’s an important final month – but one the Broncos are now approaching with a different viewpoint.
Why Rice was drawn to Chambers that day in the weight room may never be known. But it’s a moment he’ll be thankful for and treasure forever.
“I don’t believe this was random,” Rice said. “I believe it happened for a reason. It’s a great reminder to us. We’re grinding away, trying to spend our time to win the next game and you lose sight of the forest for the trees in how much what our team does means to people. I never want our guys to lose sight of that.”
