Idaho State Football Head Coach Cody Hawkins has announced the addition of long-time Division 1 Head Coach Dan Hawkins to his staff for the 2024 season.
Dan Hawkins is a three-time national coach of the year at previous head coaching stops at Willamette University, Boise State University, and most recently UC Davis, his alma mater. He led Willamette University to their first and only National Title Game appearance in 1997, helped Boise State to earn their first undefeated regular season at the FBS level in 2004, and was named the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year in 2018 for his efforts in leading UC Davis to the National Quarterfinals and a #6 national ranking in his second year at the helm.
"We have been fortunate to learn many valuable lessons over the years and it is rewarding to be able to share my experience to staff and players alike," remarked Dan Hawkins. "I am looking forward to helping Cody and Pauline continue to build a program Idaho State is proud of."
The elder Hawkins joins the Bengals as the Director of Player and Staff Development and will focus on mentoring players and staff in various capacities as well as assisting all sides of the ball in game-planning, strategy, and recruitment.
Head Coach Cody Hawkins remarked on the coaching addition, "My father has been a fantastic role model and my greatest mentor for as long as I can remember. He is a reflection of the person I try to be every day, and he helped formulate many of the core values that we try to incorporate into our program. His wisdom and character will help our team and coaching staff to maximize their potential on and off the field."
Director of Athletics Pauline Thiros had this to say on the addition, "We feel very fortunate to add coach Dan Hawkins to our staff. His football acumen and coaching experience is a tremendous asset, but he is also a big add to the culture we are building. His capacity to mentor our staff, develop our students, and work with our fanbase is a significant benefit to Bengal Athletics."
