Former Bozeman Hawk Will Dissly and new Bobcat coach Jeff Choate
Photo by: Boise State Sports Information
Jeff Choate readies for his first Bobcat staff to converge on Bozeman
12/29/2015 4:56:00 PM | Football
New MSU boss 'excited, antsy' to assemble staff
Methodically over a three-day period in December, the bowl games Bobcat fans took a little more interest in than the rest of the pre-New Year's Eve matchups came off the list.
Boise State in the Poinsettia Bowl? Check. Washington in the Heart of Dallas Bowl? Check. And Indiana's Pinstripe Bowl appearance? Check. And with each of those games coming off the ledger, an assistant coach or two officially became Bobcats.
"It was a unique experience," said new Montana State head football coach Jeff Choate, who finished his time as a Washington Huskies assistant coach with the Heart of Dallas Bowl in the Cotton Bowl, then hurriedly left Texas ahead of some truly terrible weather. But he lingered in Dallas long enough to catch the end of Pinstripe Bowl in Yankee Stadium, where Choate's new offensive coordinator Courtney Messingham and the Indiana Hoosiers lost a heartbreaker to Duke in overtime.
Three days earlier, Boise State – where Choate previously worked and where two future Bobcat assistants, Matt Miller and Byron Hout, served as graduate assistants – finished off Northern Illinois in impressive fashion 55-7. "I watched that Boise State game and was really impressed with how their defensive front played," Choate said. "I know Byron has had a big role with how well that group of guys played."
With those obligations in the past, Choate – and the individual assistants – each transitioned into their new roles with MSU. As the Christmas holiday passed, the harried nature of the previous few weeks struck Choate. "It seems like it drug on a little bit, because one day we're in Bozeman for the press conference and meeting the (players) and getting things lined up in Bozeman, then it's on the road recruiting, and spending time getting the coaching staff on board."
Huskies Coach Chris Peterson Lauds Choate for D-Line, Special Teams Work
One thing that struck Choate while helping the Huskies prepare for their bowl matchup and keeping an eye on the other games of interest was the breadth of experience and experiences his staff brings to Bozeman when it finally meets for the first time on Monday. "I think that will really help us on the recruiting trail," Choate said, "the lpaces some of the guys on this staff have been and the experiences we've had. We've had a lot of FCS experiences, a lot of FBS experiences, and that's something guys we'll be recruiting like to hear about. 'What was it like to play against Oklahoma?' 'Coach Alexander, tell me about playing in the NFL?' Those experiences will resonate with the young men we're talking to."
Matt Miller, Byron Hout Ready to Become Bobcats
He and his staff know that finding the players that fit into his first Bobcat recruiting class – and eventually his first team at MSU – is about more than telling stories. "The whole process is about building relationships with players and their parents," Choate said. "At the end of the day parents want to know that their son will be taken care of and held accountable and developed into adults."
With members of Choate's first coaching staff trickling into Bozeman this weekend, Choate said the anticipation is building. "I'm excited, and I'm antsy to get everyone to Bozeman and get started."
Choate said the staff meets for the first time on Monday, putting together the program's plan of action for its first recruiting period. "I know we're all ready to converge on Bozeman and to get going."
Boise State in the Poinsettia Bowl? Check. Washington in the Heart of Dallas Bowl? Check. And Indiana's Pinstripe Bowl appearance? Check. And with each of those games coming off the ledger, an assistant coach or two officially became Bobcats.
"It was a unique experience," said new Montana State head football coach Jeff Choate, who finished his time as a Washington Huskies assistant coach with the Heart of Dallas Bowl in the Cotton Bowl, then hurriedly left Texas ahead of some truly terrible weather. But he lingered in Dallas long enough to catch the end of Pinstripe Bowl in Yankee Stadium, where Choate's new offensive coordinator Courtney Messingham and the Indiana Hoosiers lost a heartbreaker to Duke in overtime.
Three days earlier, Boise State – where Choate previously worked and where two future Bobcat assistants, Matt Miller and Byron Hout, served as graduate assistants – finished off Northern Illinois in impressive fashion 55-7. "I watched that Boise State game and was really impressed with how their defensive front played," Choate said. "I know Byron has had a big role with how well that group of guys played."
With those obligations in the past, Choate – and the individual assistants – each transitioned into their new roles with MSU. As the Christmas holiday passed, the harried nature of the previous few weeks struck Choate. "It seems like it drug on a little bit, because one day we're in Bozeman for the press conference and meeting the (players) and getting things lined up in Bozeman, then it's on the road recruiting, and spending time getting the coaching staff on board."
Huskies Coach Chris Peterson Lauds Choate for D-Line, Special Teams Work
One thing that struck Choate while helping the Huskies prepare for their bowl matchup and keeping an eye on the other games of interest was the breadth of experience and experiences his staff brings to Bozeman when it finally meets for the first time on Monday. "I think that will really help us on the recruiting trail," Choate said, "the lpaces some of the guys on this staff have been and the experiences we've had. We've had a lot of FCS experiences, a lot of FBS experiences, and that's something guys we'll be recruiting like to hear about. 'What was it like to play against Oklahoma?' 'Coach Alexander, tell me about playing in the NFL?' Those experiences will resonate with the young men we're talking to."
Matt Miller, Byron Hout Ready to Become Bobcats
He and his staff know that finding the players that fit into his first Bobcat recruiting class – and eventually his first team at MSU – is about more than telling stories. "The whole process is about building relationships with players and their parents," Choate said. "At the end of the day parents want to know that their son will be taken care of and held accountable and developed into adults."
With members of Choate's first coaching staff trickling into Bozeman this weekend, Choate said the anticipation is building. "I'm excited, and I'm antsy to get everyone to Bozeman and get started."
Choate said the staff meets for the first time on Monday, putting together the program's plan of action for its first recruiting period. "I know we're all ready to converge on Bozeman and to get going."
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