COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Boise hires Bhonapha
After eight years in green and black, Keith Bhonapha is switching to orange and blue.
The former Hawaii defensive back and graduate assistant starts next week as director of football operations at Boise State.
Bhonapha will handle various administrative duties for Broncos first-year head coach Chris Petersen. Petersen, formerly the BSU offensive coordinator, replaced Dan Hawkins who left for Colorado.
"It's a really good situation for me. I'll get some different experience than on-field coaching," Bhonapha said. "The avenues from this job are endless. It opens my network a little wider."
The position rounds out his résumé, Bhonapha said.
"I'll be taking care of a lot of the details involving travel and recruiting and I'll be the director of the football camp. Basically I'll be the right-hand man to Coach Peterson when it comes to administration, so he and the rest of the coaches can concentrate on football and winning games."
One of those games each year will be against Hawaii.
"I never really thought about it, but it will be a little different in Boise wearing Bronco blue and orange," he said. "I think all the (UH) former teammates are done, but I will be looking across at my alma mater and former coaching colleagues once a year."
Bhonapha played for UH from 1999 to 2002, standing out on special teams. He was a graduate assistant from 2003 through last season. He played for the last UH team to beat Boise State, in 1999. The Broncos have since emerged as a perennial powerhouse in the Western Athletic Conference and beaten the Warriors five straight times.
Bhonapha, a Skyline High School (Oakland, Calif.) graduate, helped recruit 2006 freshman All-American receiver Davone Bess, who went to the same high school.
UH pro day set: Recent Hawaii football players are scheduled to work out for pro scouts March 29 at 9 a.m. at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.