MONTANA STATE SPORTS INFORMATION
Editor’s Note: On December 11, new Montana State head football coach Jeff Choate announced the hiring of former Boise State standout Gerald Alexander to coach MSU’s secondary. On January 3, FootballScoop.com reported Alexander would join Bryan Harsin’s staff at his alma mater in the same capacity. On January 13, Boise State announced the hiring of Ashley Ambrose to coach the secondary. On the evening of January 13, Choate announced to the MSU Quarterback Club that Gerald Alexander would still be the coach of the Bobcat secondary according to three sources at the meeting.
Jeff Choate reached into his past Friday to fill another spot on his first Montana State coaching staff. Former Bronco Gerald Alexander, who also played five seasons in the NFL, joins the program as secondary coach.
Alexander spent 2015 as the secondary coach at Indiana State and mentored second-team All-Missouri Valley defensive back Travis Starks. He served as a defensive graduate assistant at Washington under his former BSU coach Chris Peterson in 2014, and the year prior was a defensive graduate assistant at Arkansas State. His coaching career began with a season as a volunteer coach at his former high school, Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) High, in 2012.
Alexander played at Boise State from 2002 until 06, starting the final three of those seasons, before being drafted in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft by Detroit. He spent two seasons with the Lions, and played for Jacksonville (2009-10), Carolina (2010), Miami (2011) and the Jets (2011). He appeared in 44 NFL games, starting 30 during his professional career.
“Gerald was an important part of the Boise State’s first Fiesta Bowl team,” Choate said. “He was a team captain and a leader. He was drafted by the Lions and had a very good NFL career cut short by an injury. I worked with Gerald at Washington in 2014 and it became obvious to me then that he’s going to become a superstar in the coaching profession. His energy and knowledge and enthusiasm are second to none.”
2016 Montana State Coaching Staff
As of December 11, 2015
HEAD COACH: Jeff Choate
Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers: Kane Ioane
Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks: Courtney Messingham
Defensive Coordinator: Ty Gregorak
Offensive Line: Brian Armstrong
Running Backs: Michael Pitre
Receivers: Matt Miller
Tight Ends/Recruiting Coordinator: Bo Beck
Defensive Line: Byron Hout
Secondary: Gerald Alexander
