Idaho State offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Matt Troxel is leaving the program for a job at Oregon State and will be replaced by Mike Ferriter, a source with direct knowledge of the development told the Journal on Friday.
Troxel has been hired by OSU as an offensive analyst, the source said. According to a story published by Oregonlive.com, Troxel will not directly coach players during practices or games or recruit off campus, but rather provide "an extra set of eyes for the coaching staff" and participate in coaches meetings.
Ferriter returns to Idaho State after spending the last three seasons at Montana coaching wide receivers and coordinating the passing game for former head coach Bob Stitt. Ferriter was not retained by new Montana head coach Bobby Hauck, who was announced as Stitt's replacement Dec. 1, 2017. Ferriter coached inside wide receivers at Idaho State during the 2013 and '14 seasons. Troxel and Ferriter declined to comment for this story.
With Ferriter in the fold, Montana ranked second in the Big Sky Conference last season with 35 points per game, and was 10th in the FCS at 305.5 yards passing per game. Grizzlies wideouts Jerry Louie-McGee and Keenan Curran made the Big Sky honorable mention list, with Curran ranked sixth in the conference with 73 yards receiving per game.
In 2015 at Montana, Ferriter coached senior wide receiver Ben Roberts, who was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Tennessee Titans in 2016. In his first stint at Idaho State, Ferriter coached all-conference receivers Madison Mangum, KW Williams, Luke Austin and Chad Hansen. Mangum, Williams and Austin all rank in the top 10 in Bengals history in multiple career statistical categories. Hansen later transferred to California, was a fourth-round 2017 NFL Draft pick and made nine catches for 94 yards with the New York Jets this past season.
Ferriter has previously worked with and played for Bengals head coach Rob Phenicie. Ferriter was a standout receiver at Montana and was hired as a graduate assistant coach at UNLV. Hauck was the head coach of both teams, while Phenicie was one of his top assistants.
Ferriter is one of 14 players in Montana history with over 2,000 career yards receiving.
Troxel, who spent seven years on Idaho State's coaching staff, elevated ISU's offense from the bottom of the Big Sky toward the top of the FCS in his second season as offensive coordinator. The Bengals ranked 20th in the FCS in 2017 with 434.9 yards of total offense per game and landed inside the top 40 in rushing offense, passing offense and passing efficiency. Starting quarterback Tanner Gueller set career highs in yards passing, passing touchdowns and passing efficiency, while wide receiver Mitch Gueller and running back James Madison earned first-team all-Big Sky honors.
Troxel is the Bengals' second lost coordinator since November. Former defensive coordinator Spencer Toone was let go prior to the end of the season. His replacement has not been announced. ISU will also bring in a new offensive line coach to replace Dorian Keller, who was reassigned within the university for the remainder of his contract.
Troxel joins a staff at Oregon State led by first-year head coach Jonathan Smith. Smith and Troxel worked together as offensive assistant coaches at the University of Idaho during the 2009 season.
The Beavers, of the Power 5 Pac-12 Conference, went 1-11 last season and ranked 112th out of 129 FBS teams in total offense and were tied for 113th in scoring offense.