Harsin Announces RB, Strength Coaching Hires
2/1/2020 11:59:00 AM | Football
BOISE, Idaho – Boise State football head coach Bryan Harsin announced the hiring of Winston Venable as the Broncos' running backs coach, Saturday. Additionally, Anthony Lazard has been hired as the assistant director of football performance.
"Hard work does not go unnoticed, and Winston has given everything he had in every area in which he was capable since stepping foot on campus as a student-athlete," Harsin said. "When he rejoined our program following his playing career, it was no different. This is an opportunity he has earned, and I am excited to watch him flourish in his new role.
"As for Anthony, he is someone that comes highly recommended from people that have been with us and know what we're about. He is excited to be part of our culture, and we're looking forward to having another blue-collar guy helping to train the next generation of blue-collar Broncos."
Venable, a former all-conference standout for the Broncos, has spent the last two seasons as the team's player development coordinator, a position in which he coordinated all student-athlete programming. He also served as the Broncos' academic liaison and community outreach coordinator.
The 2020 season will mark his first as an on-field assistant.
Venable played for Boise State from 2009-10, earning all-conference honors each season. Following a senior campaign in which he was named first-team All-Western Athletic Conference, Venable signed with the Chicago Bears as a free agent for the 2011 season.
He then went on to play in the Canadian Football League with the Montreal Alouettes (2012-16), where he was named a CFL All-Star in 2015.
Venable was named to Boise State's All-Blue Team, a celebration of the greatest players to hit The Blue during its first 30 years. He returned to Boise State to complete his degree following his playing career, earning a bachelor's degree in communication in 2017.
"I could not be more fired up to get back on The Blue to coach with the type of high-character men we have in this program," Venable said. "I can't thank Coach Harsin enough for this opportunity, and bringing me back into the program when my playing career ended. There is no question that this program and this place are special. I intend to bring it every day as a coach, just like I did as a player. This game is about being smart, hungry and humble. That's the mindset our running backs will have."
Lazard joins the Broncos from Appalachian State, where he spent the 2019 season as the assistant athletic performance coach. While with the Mountaineers, Lazard assisted with all aspects of the football team's strength and conditioning program.
Prior to joining App State, Lazard spent time at Upper Iowa University, Central Methodist University, Houston and Colorado State.
Lazard played collegiately for Iowa State, where he was a second-team Academic All-Big 12 selection, in addition to earning scout team player of the year honors on both special teams (2016) and defense (2015). He earned a bachelor's degree in exercise science from ISU in 2016.
"Hard work does not go unnoticed, and Winston has given everything he had in every area in which he was capable since stepping foot on campus as a student-athlete," Harsin said. "When he rejoined our program following his playing career, it was no different. This is an opportunity he has earned, and I am excited to watch him flourish in his new role.
"As for Anthony, he is someone that comes highly recommended from people that have been with us and know what we're about. He is excited to be part of our culture, and we're looking forward to having another blue-collar guy helping to train the next generation of blue-collar Broncos."
Venable, a former all-conference standout for the Broncos, has spent the last two seasons as the team's player development coordinator, a position in which he coordinated all student-athlete programming. He also served as the Broncos' academic liaison and community outreach coordinator.
The 2020 season will mark his first as an on-field assistant.
Venable played for Boise State from 2009-10, earning all-conference honors each season. Following a senior campaign in which he was named first-team All-Western Athletic Conference, Venable signed with the Chicago Bears as a free agent for the 2011 season.
He then went on to play in the Canadian Football League with the Montreal Alouettes (2012-16), where he was named a CFL All-Star in 2015.
Venable was named to Boise State's All-Blue Team, a celebration of the greatest players to hit The Blue during its first 30 years. He returned to Boise State to complete his degree following his playing career, earning a bachelor's degree in communication in 2017.
"I could not be more fired up to get back on The Blue to coach with the type of high-character men we have in this program," Venable said. "I can't thank Coach Harsin enough for this opportunity, and bringing me back into the program when my playing career ended. There is no question that this program and this place are special. I intend to bring it every day as a coach, just like I did as a player. This game is about being smart, hungry and humble. That's the mindset our running backs will have."
Lazard joins the Broncos from Appalachian State, where he spent the 2019 season as the assistant athletic performance coach. While with the Mountaineers, Lazard assisted with all aspects of the football team's strength and conditioning program.
Prior to joining App State, Lazard spent time at Upper Iowa University, Central Methodist University, Houston and Colorado State.
Lazard played collegiately for Iowa State, where he was a second-team Academic All-Big 12 selection, in addition to earning scout team player of the year honors on both special teams (2016) and defense (2015). He earned a bachelor's degree in exercise science from ISU in 2016.
