Northwest Notes Jan. 7, 2026

Treadwell named running backs coach at Idaho

Idaho head football coach Thomas Ford Jr. announced Spencer Treadwell as the Vandals' new running backs coach, pending H.R. approval. 

Treadwell comes to Idaho after one season at Eastern Illinois. 

Prior to that, Treadwell spent 2022-24 at Defiance College where he worked as assistant head coach, offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator.  

Treadwell has also spent time coaching at Arkansas–Pine Bluff (2021, tight ends and specialists coach), Walsh University (2018-21, wide receivers coach), Alma College (2017, running backs coach), and Kent State (2015-17, graduate assistant).

“Getting Spencer to Moscow as our running backs coach is huge,” Ford said. “He is one of the top up-and-coming offensive coaches in all of FCS and has been around the game his whole life, with his father being a former FBS head coach. He is very organized, understands how to teach to any and all learning styles, and is an excellent recruiter. He will bring an elite level of professionalism to our offensive staff, and will help our run game and pass protection raise the standard even higher than we did in 2025.”

Treadwell played collegiately at Miami (OH) where he served as a team captain and graduated in 2015 with his bachelor’s degree.

Moore adds Larrondo, seven assistants to Cougar coaching staff

Washington State football coach Kirby Moore announced that Brad Larrondo has been named the program's Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director/General Manager, while also naming seven more assistants to his first coaching staff in Pullman.

Larrondo is a veteran of college athletics for more than two decades, and spent the previous three seasons working closely with Moore at Missouri. For the 2024-25 seasons, Larrondo served as the CEO of Every True Tiger Brands, an NIL Marketing and Branding agency for Missouri athletes. The NIL marketing and brand agency has established itself as a leading collective in college football. Larrondo spent the 2023 season as an assistant athletic director/director football external relations and recruiting at Missouri. Prior to Missouri, Larrondo was the football chief of staff for Bryan Harsin at Auburn for two seasons and served in a similar role under Harsin at Boise State.

"This is a transformational step for Washington State Football," said Moore. "The work required to manage a roster, including contract negotiations, player evaluation, strategic planning, recruiting and retention requires full time focus. Brad's extensive experience in the SEC will help us improve our process and program. I look forward to working alongside Brad as we look ahead to great things for WSU football."

Of the seven new assistant coaches, three will be on the offensive side of the ball and four on defense. The 2026 Cougar coaching staff will include Jack Abercrombie (offensive line), Andrew Browning (rush/defensive run game coordinator), Greg Burns (secondary/safeties), Derham Cato (run game coordinator/tight ends), Eti Ena (defensive tackles), Derek Sage (wide receivers/special teams coordinator) and Brandyn Thompson (cornerbacks).

Last week, Moore announced both coordinator positions, Trent Bray (defensive coordinator/linebackers) and Matt Miller (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks), as well as Malcolm Hardmon (director of football athletic performance).

Abercrombie spent the past three seasons working alongside Moore at Missouri, the last two as assistant offensive line coach. He has also coached at VMI, Mississippi State and Gannon.

Browning spent the previous eight seasons at California, last seven as defensive line coach. He began his coaching career at Boise State in 2010, where he spent three seasons when Moore and Miller were teammates.

Burns has nearly three decades of experience working with defensive backs at both the professional and collegiate levels He has coached throughout the west, including stops at USC, UCLA, Cal, Arizona, Arizona State and most recently, San José State. Burns played at WSU from 1991-95 under coach Mike Price and was a part of two bowl teams.

Cato spent the past three seasons at Missouri, the last two as tight ends coach. He also has had coaching stints at Washington, Davidson, Vanderbilt and his alma mater, Dartmouth. Following college, he played professionally in NFL Europe, the CFL and Arena League.

Ena spent the past two seasons at New Mexico State, preceded by two years at Hawai'i. He was a member of Eastern Washington staff from 2016-21 as the Eagles reached the 2018 season championship game and 2016 semifinal. Ena graduated from Eastern Washington.

Sage has spent two decades coaching collegiately, most recently working with tight ends at Toledo the past two seasons. He is making his second stint in Pullman after coaching outside receivers on Mike Leach's staff in 2017. He has also coached at UCLA, where he was tight ends/special teams coordinator, Nevada, New Hampshire and Wyoming.

Thompson spent the 2025 season coaching cornerbacks at Cal Poly. He also has coached at Sacramento State and Sacramento City College. He was a 2011 seventh-round selection in NFL Draft by Washington after playing at Boise State, where he was a teammate of Moore. He played one season in Washington and then five in the CFL.