Andrew Rich, the most successful softball coach in Idaho State University history, has accepted the head coaching position at Boise State University, touching off a critical transition period for the ISU program in Pocatello and raising serious questions about player retention as a key transfer portal deadline approaches.
A Decorated Run at Idaho State Comes to an End
Rich spent five years leading the ISU softball program, building it into one of the Big Sky Conference’s premier teams. Under his direction, the Bengals captured three Big Sky regular season titles and earned the program’s first-ever postseason tournament championship. Most recently, ISU made an NCAA tournament appearance — a milestone for a program that had long operated in the shadow of larger Mountain West and Pac-12 programs.
Rich’s jump to Boise State is not entirely unexpected. He previously worked as an assistant coach for the Broncos for three seasons, giving him established relationships within the program. Boise State’s prior head coach had departed for an assistant position at Arkansas, leaving a vacancy that the university filled by reaching back into Rich’s history with the program.
The salary difference tells a clear story about the resource gap between the two programs. Rich will earn $140,000 per year at Boise State over a three-year contract, compared to his $78,000 base salary at ISU. Even accounting for the $16,000 in maximum annual incentive bonuses he could earn in Pocatello, the Boise deal represents a substantial financial step forward. The two athletic departments reflect a similar disparity in scale — Boise State’s athletic department operates on a roughly $75 million annual budget, while Idaho State’s runs closer to $15 million. Boise State’s staff directory lists more than 300 positions; ISU’s lists fewer than half that number.
Transfer Portal Clock Is Ticking for Idaho State
The coaching departure creates immediate pressure for the ISU program because of how NCAA transfer portal rules interact with coaching changes. Returning ISU players become eligible to enter the transfer portal five days after a new head coach is officially announced — and the NCAA softball transfer portal closes June 24, leaving a narrow window for decisions.
Several standout players figure prominently in the uncertainty. Shortstop Camryn McDonald led the entire Big Sky Conference in hitting, making her one of the most attractive transfer targets in the league. Catcher Jenna Kearns earned all-conference honors, and pitcher Megan Miracle — who threw a perfect game the prior season — brings the kind of demonstrated excellence that Power Five programs actively pursue. If any or all of those players enter the portal before it closes, ISU’s competitive standing in the Big Sky could erode quickly heading into next season.
Further complicating the rebuild, the incoming freshman class recruited by Rich can opt out of their commitments to ISU without penalty now that the coach who recruited them has left. Replacing an entire class of prospects on short notice adds another layer of difficulty for whoever takes over the Pocatello program.
ISU has already posted the head coaching vacancy at an advertised salary of $80,000 to $95,000 per year — a range that may prove challenging when competing for established coaches in a market shaped by Name, Image, and Likeness deals and growing athletic department budgets at larger schools.
What Boise State Gains and What Comes Next for Both Programs
For Boise State, the hire brings in a proven winner with direct knowledge of the program. Rich’s familiarity with the Broncos’ facilities, culture, and recruiting geography in the Treasure Valley gives him an immediate advantage in rebuilding momentum after losing their previous coach to the SEC. Boise State’s significantly larger budget and staff infrastructure should give Rich more resources than he ever had in Pocatello.
Idaho State, meanwhile, faces a compressed timeline. The athletic department must identify and hire a new head coach, manage potential player departures through the portal window, and shore up the incoming recruiting class — all before the summer ends and fall practice begins. Boise State’s new head coach is expected to be formally introduced in the coming days. Residents interested in Boise State’s broader leadership direction can follow the university’s ongoing administrative transitions, including the formal selection of a new Boise State University president, which has drawn significant attention across Idaho’s higher education community.
For ISU players weighing their options, the June 24 portal deadline is the hard stop. After that date, the roster picture for both programs will begin to come into focus for the 2027 season.