Ex-Husky RB Coach Bhonapha Joins Michigan State Staff

Originally posted on FanNation Husky Maven | By Dan Raley | Last updated 12/8/23

Keith Bhonapha, former University of Washington running-backs coach, remains on the move since leaving Montlake 24 months ago with his job opportunities taking him from Boise State to Oregon State and now Michigan State.

Bhonapha will join Jonathan Smith's new coaching staff in the Big Ten as they try to rebuild the Spartans program in a hurry.

A former Hawaii running back, he originally came to Washington in 2014 as part of Chris Petersen's new staff after working for him at Boise State.

Bhonapha stayed in Seattle for eight years until Jimmy Lake was fired as coach and Petersen's brief replacement in 2021 and all except offensive-line coach Scott Huff had to find new jobs.

Bhonapha returned to Boise State in 2022 until he had an opportunity to return to the Pac-12 and work for Smith at Oregon State this past season.

He was credited with helping turn Beavers sophomore Damien Martinez into a bigger and better running back, with the 6-foot, 232-pound runner adding 20 pounds, rushing for 1,185 yards and 9 touchdowns and being named as a first-team All-Pac-12 selection.

At the UW, Bhonapha worked with Myles Gaskin, Salvon Ahmed and Dwayne Washington, all NFL-bound rushers, and was responsible for recruiting a lot of Texas running backs to the Huskies, such as Jay'Veon Sunday, Caleb Berry and Emeka Megwa, though none remain on the roster.

Sunday led FCS Abilene Christian in rushing this season, Megwa is at Oklahoma trying to get healthy after multiple knee surgeries and Berry appears to be out of football after a brief stop at Incarnate Word in San Antonio.

This article first appeared on FanNation Husky Maven and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: