Boise State is one of the most storied programs in the Group of Five. And there is no shortage of fans who fully expect the Broncos to be contending for a College Football Playoff spot – again – in 2025.
Nate Potter recognizes this. He was an All-American offensive tackle for Boise State in 2011. He contributed to the team’s 2009 Fiesta Bowl win. He helped the Broncos win the Mountain West and reach the Fiesta Bowl in 2024 while on the coaching staff.
He relishes every ounce of the pressure created in the wake of those accomplishments. And now that Potter has been promoted to offensive coordinator this offseason, attention will turn to him, as will the trust of Boise State players, alumni, and fans to sustain the success of the program.
Potter won’t have the option of leaning on Heisman Trophy finalist Ashton Jeanty at running back, either. But he’s confident he’s ready.
“If you’ve been in this program for a long time, you’re used to high expectations and high pressure that comes with being a part of the Boise State Broncos,” Potter said during an interview with HERO Sports. “That’s what you want. Obviously in my new role, there’s gonna be a lot more, and I know that. It’s just something that is part of our program. When you’re trying to do the things that we’re trying to do and you have high goals, you know that pressure and expectations are gonna come with it.”
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Nate Potter’s Background
Over the course of his career, Potter has had time to prepare for his most recent promotion.
He was Boise State’s tight ends coach and run game coordinator in 2022 and 2023 before becoming a co-offensive coordinator this past season.
That was after he coached tight ends at Montana State, where he helped the Bobcats reach the FCS Championship in 2021 and the national semifinals in 2019. He worked with offensive linemen at the College of Idaho in 2018.
Potter was on Boise State’s coaching staff prior to that. He was a quality control assistant in 2014 and an offensive graduate assistant from 2015-17. That was after his NFL career, as he was a seventh-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 2012. He played in 21 games with six starts during his two-year pro career.
This all was part of the path that led Potter to becoming the offensive coordinator for his alma mater.
“It’s been a very exciting offseason,” he said. “There’s been a lot of going on, a lot of growth. There’s a lot I’m learning, but I’m surrounded by great coaches and great people that are a lot smarter than me to help me out on a daily basis, and I enjoy going to work and working around these people, so that makes this transition a little bit better.
“But it’s a tremendous, tremendous opportunity, and I don’t take that lightly. I have a lot of respect and love for this program because I’ve been in it for so long, so I’m working every day to do the best job possible.”
Dirk Koetter’s Impact
Potter worked under previous offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, a former head coach and playcaller for several NFL and FBS teams. Koetter is moving to a senior analyst role this year.
Potter noted he learned “a million things” from Koetter. He specifically pointed out Koetter’s efficiency in how he utilizes his time.
Will Potter put his own twist on how things are done in this elevated role? Responding to that question was difficult, he said.
He’s not going to be the same as anybody else, he noted while adding that the most truthful answer is “we’ll wait and see.”
However, Potter emphasized the “common principles” of Boise State and the program’s philosophy on offense will not change.
“I think we’ve got a lot of young talent that just needs an opportunity, needs time to develop, so I’m excited for them,” Potter said. “But who we are, that stays consistent. Now there’s gonna be tweaks here and there, but the mentality of our team, on offense or defense, that’s pretty standard year in and year out.”
A top-notch, well-balanced offense, one that can lean on a strong rushing attack while also being capable of turning to a potent passing game, could be Boise State’s key to remaining a powerhouse in 2025. The pressure of making that a reality will fall on Potter.
And that’s something he fully expected.
