Spencer Danielson’s final assistant coaching hire at Boise State appears to be a big one.
Sources tell Bronco Nation News that Penn State special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach Stacy Collins is expected to join the Broncos.
Collins previously was Boise State’s special teams coordinator and EDGE coach in 2021 before leaving for Penn State. He’ll likely coach special teams and linebackers at Boise State.
During his one year at Boise State in 2021, the Broncos blocked three punts – including two which were returned for touchdowns. The Broncos also had a punt return for a touchdown, and kicker Jonah Dalmas made 26 of 28 field goals.
This past season was the first for Boise State without a special teams or defensive touchdown since 1984.
Demario Warren, who coached Boise State’s special teams in 2023, is returning to the Broncos on Danielson’s staff but only as cornerbacks coach. That left the Broncos looking for a special teams coordinator and linebackers coach for his final assistant coaching position.
Adding Collins is a big move for Danielson. Collins is likely taking a big pay cut to leave Penn State for Boise State, and it’s rare a Power 5 coach leaves for a similar role at a Group of 5 school.
His expertise is two areas where Boise State struggled at times last season – special teams and defense.
Collins has coached almost exclusively on the West Coast prior to his two years at Penn State and returns to an area he’s more familiar with. Prior to Boise State, Collins spent five years at Utah State from 2016 to 2020 in a variety of roles including coaching special teams, co-defensive coordinator, inside linebackers, safeties and running backs.
He previously was the head coach at the South Dakota School of Mines from 2012-15 and was an assistant at Portland State, Central Washington, Southern Oregon, Idaho State, Western Washington and Western Oregon.
Collins coached in a New Year’s Six bowl game in each of his two years at Penn State, including the Rose Bowl last year and the Peach Bowl on Saturday.
The Nittany Lions suffered a 38-25 loss to Ole Miss to finish with a 10-3 record.
Collins couldn’t be reached for comment and a Boise State official declined to confirm the news to BNN, but sources tell Boise State the news is expected to be finalized and announced in the neat future. The deal has been in the works for two weeks but contract language in his Penn State contract held things up until this week.
