Texas co-defensive coordinator Jeff Choate emerges for Nevada HC vacancy

Texas co-defensive coordinator Jeff Choate has emerged as the top target for the Nevada Wolfpack head coaching vacancy, according to Bruce Feldman. The 53-year-old was 11-4 in his last season at Montana State University.

Choate was named the co-defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach at Texas on Jan. 28, 2021. Before joining the Longhorns coaching staff, he spent four years as the head coach with Montana State from 2016-2020. He’s spent time at a number of other schools across the country, including Washington, Florida, Washington State, Boise State, Eastern Illinois, and Utah State.

Choate led the Montana State Bobcats to back-to-back Division I-AA playoff appearances in 2018 and 2019, including taking them to the semifinals in 2019. That was the Bobcats’ best postseason run since 1984, and during his final two seasons there, he led them to a 19-9 record. Two players from Montana State earned second team All-American honors for the Division I-AA level, offensive lineman Mitch Brott and defensive lineman Bryce Sterk.

In his four seasons as the head coach with the Bobcats, he finished with an overall record of 28-22, including 18-14 in conference.

Choate will be in the Mountain West Conference with Nevada, something he has familiarity with during his time with the Boise State Broncos. From 2006-2011, he worked as their running backs coach (2006-2008), then as their linebackers coach (2009-2011). During his entire stint with Boise, he also served as their special teams’ coach.

Jeff Choate will have big shoes to fill with the Nevada Wolfpack

Nevada has a very proud football tradition. Their most accomplished coach is without a doubt, Chris Ault. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2002 and the field at Mackay Stadium is named after him. Ault is credited with being the creator of the Pistol offense, he implemented that at Nevada when he returned there in 2004. Under his watch, the Wolfpack had one of the most dynamic rushing attacks in all of college football.

In 2009, the trio of quarterback Colin Kaepernick, running back Vai Taua, and running back Luke Lippincott became the first trio of teammates to each rush for over 1,000 rushing yards in the same season in NCAA history.

Jay Norvell was the head coach at Nevada from 20017-2021. In 2020 and 2021, Wolfpack quarterback Carson Strong won Mountain West Conference Player of the Year honors, becoming just the fifth player in conference history to win the award in back-to-back years.