Jeff Choate will be on the hunt for a new offensive coordinator once again this offseason.
On Wednesday afternoon, Skyline Sports confirmed previous reports that Montana State offensive coordinator Matt Miller is returning to his alma mater Boise State to coach wide receivers. The move was first reported by MTN Sports.
Columnist Mike Prater of the Idaho Press confirmed the news with sources at BSU. Miller’s hiring is expected to be made official Thursday, Prater reported.
Boise State officially announced Miller’s hiring on Thursday.
The Helena Capital product and former Montana Gatorade Player of the Year has spent the last four seasons on Choate’s staff, including serving as the offensive coordinator for MSU’s last 21 games. Miller took over as the offensive play-caller with six games remaining in the 2018 season when Choate dismissed passing game coordinator Bob Cole and demoted offensive coordinator Brian Armstrong.
Miller was the third offensive coordinator and fourth offensive play-caller employed by Choate. Courtney Messingham was MSU’s OC during Choate’s first season in 2016 before leaving for the same position at North Dakota State. Messingham is currently the offensive coordinator at Kansas State. Armstrong was the MSU offensive coordinator in 2017 and 2018, sharing play-calling duties with Cole during the first half of the 2018 season.
With Miller at the controls of the offense, Montana State posted a 15-6 record that included two rivalry game wins over the University of Montana, a first-round playoff win over Incarnate Word in 2018 and two more playoff wins this most recent season.
Miller, who spent his first two and a half seasons at MSU coaching wide receivers, helped guide an offense that led the Big Sky Conference in rushing at 258.1 yards per game. MSU averaged 32.7 points per contest, including 34.2 against FCS opponents. With the exception of a season-opening 45-10 loss at Texas Tech and a season-ending 42-14 loss at No. 1 North Dakota State in the semifinals of the FCS playoffs, the Bobcats averaged nearly 36 points per game.
After tearing up Montana as one of the best multi-sport athletes from the Treasure State in the 21st century, Miller went to Boise State, where he was a four-year starter at wide receiver. His 244 career receptions remain a school record while he also is ranked in the top three in career receiving yards and career touchdown catches despite missing the second half of his senior year because of an ankle injury that ultimately ended his career.
At Boise, Miller will take over coaching wide receivers for Eric Kiesau, who was promoted to offensive coordinator when Zak Hill left for the OC position on Herm Edwards’ staff at Arizona State.
Miller started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at BSU. Choate coached multiple positions and served as the special teams coordinator for the Broncos from 2006 until 2010. Miller’s wife, Sarah, played volleyball at Boise State.
Montana State, Boise State and Miller all declined comment for this story.
