New Running Backs Coach Keith Bhonapha Joins [Team Name]! Coaching History & Impact (2026)

In a move that’s set to shake up the football program, Keith Bhonapha has been named the new running backs coach, bringing over two decades of collegiate coaching expertise to the table. But here’s where it gets exciting: Bhonapha isn’t just any coach—he’s an Oakland native with a proven track record of transforming running backs into powerhouse players. Announced by Travers Family Head Football Coach Tosh Lupoi, this hiring marks a significant step forward for the team.

Bhonapha’s journey to this role is nothing short of impressive. Over the past two seasons, he served as Michigan State’s assistant head coach and running backs coach, while also co-coordinating special teams and calling plays. His impact was undeniable: Spartan punter Ryan Eckley earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors in 2023, leading the conference with an average of 48.5 yards per punt. Meanwhile, sophomore running back Makhi Frazier rushed for 520 yards and two touchdowns, finishing fourth on the team in all-purpose yards.

But this is the part most people miss: Bhonapha’s influence extends far beyond Michigan State. In 2024, he mentored Kay’ron Lynch-Adams and Nathan Carter, both of whom led the Spartans in rushing and later signed as undrafted NFL free agents. His special teams prowess also shone, with placekicker Jonathan Kim and punter Ryan Eckley earning Second-Team All-Big Ten accolades.

Before Michigan State, Bhonapha spent a season at Oregon State, where he coached Damien Martinez, a Doak Walker Award semifinalist who ranked 20th in the FBS for rushing yards per game. Martinez’s 1,185 rushing yards in 2023 placed him 13th in Oregon State’s single-season record books, and he was later drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in 2025.

Bhonapha’s resume doesn’t stop there. In 2022, he helped Boise State’s running game rank second in the Mountain West, coaching George Holani to Second-Team All-Mountain West honors. Under his mentorship, Ashton Jeanty became a record-setter, winning the Doak Walker and Maxwell Awards in 2024 and finishing as a Heisman Trophy runner-up before being drafted sixth overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in 2025.

From 2014 to 2021, Bhonapha was at Washington, where he coached Myles Gaskin, the 10th player in FBS history to rush for four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. Gaskin finished his career with 5,323 rushing yards and 62 touchdowns, both school records. Salvon Ahmed also thrived under Bhonapha, rushing for 1,020 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Bhonapha’s first stint at Boise State (2006-2013) saw him work with standout running backs like Doug Martin, who was drafted in the first round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Jay Ajayi, a two-time All-Mountain West honoree who later won Super Bowl LII with the Philadelphia Eagles.

His coaching journey began at his alma mater, Hawai’i, where he worked with defensive backs and special teams from 2003 to 2005. As a player, Bhonapha was a four-year letterwinner for the Rainbow Warriors, helping the team to the 1999 Oahu Bowl and the 2002 Hawai’i Bowl.

But here’s the controversial question: Can Bhonapha replicate his success at this new program, or will the pressure of a different environment prove too challenging? With his history of developing NFL-caliber talent and elevating special teams, the expectations are sky-high. Only time will tell if he can deliver.

Bhonapha, a proud Oakland native, holds a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies with a focus in criminology and a master’s in public administration from Hawai’i. He and his wife, Julia, are parents to four children: Isaiah, Emery, Odin, and Ellison.

What do you think? Is Bhonapha the game-changer this program needs, or is his success overhyped? Let us know in the comments!