Kwiatkowski Heads Home to Boise State
1/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
After engineering the best defense in Big Sky history over the past four seasons, Montana State defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski accepted a new challenge on Wednesday, returning to Boise State as defensive line coach.
A former Boise State All-America, Kwiatkowski arrived at Montana State with current Bobcat head coach Mike Kramer in 2000, and inherited a defense that had struggled. In his second season at MSU, the Bobcats began a historic run atop the league's defensive charts. MSU led the Big Sky in total defense in 2001 (358.0), 2002 (306.8) and 2003 (298.4), the first time a team had ever led the league three straight years. MSU punctuated its impressive run by leading the Big Sky again in 2005, allowing just 332.2 yards a game.
"Wow," MSU coach Mike Kramer said, when asked to consider Kwiatkowski's achievements as a Bobcat assistant. "This is a pretty heart-rending moment for me. His productivity in terms of numbers will stand the test of time. The achievements of Pete and his defensive staff go down in the history of Montana State and the Big Sky Conference as the new standard."
Kramer said Kwiatkowski's performance as an assistant coach go beyond yards allowed. "The impact he made on the young men in this program now extends to the Boise State program, and will grow and be more and more appreciated as the years pass," Kramer said. "Pete has been with me longer than any other assistant. I think Pete's leaving is particularly poignant because he's returning to his alma mater, but also because he's leaving the Big Sky Conference. He made such a huge imprint on this league at two different schools. He was one of the best defensive players in league history at Boise State, and he built the best defense in league history at Montana State. His impact on this league will be lasting."
“I am extremely excited to bring Pete back home to Boise because he is a true Bronco,” Boise State head coach Chris Petersen said. “He is an awesome football coach, an expert at defensive line play and he brings a lot of experience with his coordinator position the last six years at Montana State. We are thrilled to have him because he is a super person that is going to fit in chemistry-wise perfectly. I’m excited for our players who are going to be around him and be coached by him.”
Kwiatkowski's defense helped lead the Bobcats to three Big Sky Championships, and three wins over the Grizzlies, in the past four years. MSU's I-AA Playoff appearances in 2002 and '03 stand as the only post-season showings for MSU since the 1984 Natioal Championship. Among the notable players Kwiatkowski's defense produced, Kane Ioane (2003) and Roger Cooper (2004) won two of the last three Big Sky Defensive MVP awards, Green Bay drafted Joey Thomas in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft, and Detroit picked John Taylor in the fourth round of the 2003 draft.
Kwiatkowski has coached at Boise State (1988-96), Snow College (1997-98), Eastern Washington (1999), and Montana State (2000-05). He is a member of the Boise State Athletic Hall of Fame, and was an All-America for the Broncos in 1987. He was a three-time First Team All-Big Sky choice.
A former Boise State All-America, Kwiatkowski arrived at Montana State with current Bobcat head coach Mike Kramer in 2000, and inherited a defense that had struggled. In his second season at MSU, the Bobcats began a historic run atop the league's defensive charts. MSU led the Big Sky in total defense in 2001 (358.0), 2002 (306.8) and 2003 (298.4), the first time a team had ever led the league three straight years. MSU punctuated its impressive run by leading the Big Sky again in 2005, allowing just 332.2 yards a game.
"Wow," MSU coach Mike Kramer said, when asked to consider Kwiatkowski's achievements as a Bobcat assistant. "This is a pretty heart-rending moment for me. His productivity in terms of numbers will stand the test of time. The achievements of Pete and his defensive staff go down in the history of Montana State and the Big Sky Conference as the new standard."
Kramer said Kwiatkowski's performance as an assistant coach go beyond yards allowed. "The impact he made on the young men in this program now extends to the Boise State program, and will grow and be more and more appreciated as the years pass," Kramer said. "Pete has been with me longer than any other assistant. I think Pete's leaving is particularly poignant because he's returning to his alma mater, but also because he's leaving the Big Sky Conference. He made such a huge imprint on this league at two different schools. He was one of the best defensive players in league history at Boise State, and he built the best defense in league history at Montana State. His impact on this league will be lasting."
“I am extremely excited to bring Pete back home to Boise because he is a true Bronco,” Boise State head coach Chris Petersen said. “He is an awesome football coach, an expert at defensive line play and he brings a lot of experience with his coordinator position the last six years at Montana State. We are thrilled to have him because he is a super person that is going to fit in chemistry-wise perfectly. I’m excited for our players who are going to be around him and be coached by him.”
Kwiatkowski's defense helped lead the Bobcats to three Big Sky Championships, and three wins over the Grizzlies, in the past four years. MSU's I-AA Playoff appearances in 2002 and '03 stand as the only post-season showings for MSU since the 1984 Natioal Championship. Among the notable players Kwiatkowski's defense produced, Kane Ioane (2003) and Roger Cooper (2004) won two of the last three Big Sky Defensive MVP awards, Green Bay drafted Joey Thomas in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft, and Detroit picked John Taylor in the fourth round of the 2003 draft.
Kwiatkowski has coached at Boise State (1988-96), Snow College (1997-98), Eastern Washington (1999), and Montana State (2000-05). He is a member of the Boise State Athletic Hall of Fame, and was an All-America for the Broncos in 1987. He was a three-time First Team All-Big Sky choice.
Justine Lamontagne Interview
Wednesday, June 10
WBB - Montana State vs Portland - Behind the Mic
Friday, March 27
2025 Code of a Champion
Monday, March 23
Spring Football Preview Press Conference
Friday, March 13
