MOSCOW, Idaho – University of Idaho Athletic Director Terry Gawlik announced that South Dakota State Offensive Coordinator Jason Eck has been named the 36th head coach of the Vandal football program, pending approval by the Idaho State Board of Education.
 
"Thank you to President Scott Green, Athletic Director Terry Gawlik, and the entire search committee for their support and belief in me as their head football coach," Eck said. "The opportunity to return to a place that is very special to my family makes us grateful, humbled, and fired up! My wife Kimberly and our five children are excited to rejoin the Vandal family and Moscow community. The Idaho Vandals are a sleeping giant in FCS football. Our coaching staff can't wait to get to work and help build a championship program for the University of Idaho."
 
 
The 2019 America Football Coaches' Association FCS Assistant Coach of the Year spent the last six seasons at South Dakota State, where he helped lead SDSU to three semifinal appearances in four seasons and a national championship game appearance during the spring 2021 season. Eck has over two decades of experience as a college coach and returns to Moscow where he began his full-time coaching career.
 
"We are excited to welcome Jason, Kimberly and their family back to Moscow," Gawlik said. "Coach Eck is a proven offensive coach and recruiter. He knows what it takes to get to the top of the FCS and has the vision to see it through. He is ready to hit the ground running and start the work immediately to build a championship program. I firmly believe that Jason is the coach that can help us achieve our high expectations."
 
In three years as the offensive coordinator at SDSU, Eck's teams have averaged 32.5 points per game, including 37.5 this season. The 2021 Jackrabbits are eighth in scoring offense, seventh in team passing efficiency and eighth in rushing offense with the FCS' leading rusher Pierre Strong leading the way.
 
In the 2021 spring season, Freshman quarterback Mark Gronowski was the runner-up for the Jerry Rice Award as the FCS freshman of the year before being injured on the first series of the National Championship game. The Jackrabbits fell 23-21 despite missing Gronowski.
 
The 2021 spring team showed off Eck's experience as an offensive line coach. The Jackrabbits were seventh in the FCS in rushing and fourth in the FCS for tackles for loss allowed despite playing some of the most physical defenses in the country in the MVFC. Sophomore offensive tackle Garret Greenfield was a near-consensus All-America selection. Sophomore guard Mason McCormick also received All-America recognition. 
 
Eck served as the offensive line coach for the Jackrabbits from 2016-18. During his first season with the Jackrabbits, SDSU featured one of the most prolific offenses in the MVFC and the Football Championship Subdivision, posting averages of 33.2 points and 437.5 yards of total offense per game. In league contests, SDSU ranked second out of 10 teams in allowing only 11 total sacks and ranked first in five different offensive categories.
 
Before his time at SDSU, Eck was the offensive line coach and run-game coordinator at Montana State in 2015. The Bobcats were 18th in the FCS for rushing offense and 23rd in the FCS for sacks allowed. MSU was third in the FCS for scoring offense during his one season in Bozeman.
 
He was the Offensive Coordinator for the record-setting offense at Minnesota State, Mankato during back-to-back Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference championships in 2013 and 2014. He served as the offensive line coach in 2013 and added offensive coordinator duties in 2014 as the Mavericks advanced to the NCAA Division II championship game. The 2014 season saw Mankato finish 14th in Division II in rushing offense.
 
He also has served coaching stints at Winona State (2007-08), Ball State (2009-10), Hampton (2011) and Western Illinois (2012).
 
His first time as a Vandal came in 2004 when he coached the Vandal offensive line for three seasons. Eck spent two seasons under head coach Nick Holt and one under head coach Dennis Erickson.
 
A 1999 graduate of Wisconsin, Eck played on the Badgers' 1998 Big Ten championship team which went on to win the Rose Bowl. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Wisconsin under head coach Barry Alvarez and later moved on to Colorado.
 
Eck and his wife Kimberly have five children Quentin (19), Jaxton (17), Palmer (10), Maverick (6) and Lola (1). Kimberly is on the Board of Directors of the American Football Coaches Wives Association.
 
Eck will be introduced at a press conference at 1 p.m. Monday at the ICCU Arena Alumni Club Room. An open reception will take place Monday at 5 p.m. also at the ICCU Arena Alumni Club Room.
 
The entire football staff will be announced at a later date.
 

Eck File

Coaching Experience
2019-2021 – South Dakota State - Offensive Coordinator
2016-2019 – South Dakota State - Offensive Line Coach
2015 – Montana State - Offensive Line/Run Game Coordinator
2014 – Minnesota State, Mankato – Offensive Coordinator
2013 – Minnesota State, Mankato – Offensive Line
2012 – Western Illinois – Offensive Line
2011 – Hampton – Offensive Line
2009-10 – Ball State – Offensive Line
2007-08 – Winona State – Offensive Line
2004-06 – Idaho – Offensive Line
2003-04 – Colorado – Offensive GA
2000-02 – Wisconsin – Offensive GA
 
Education
MBA - Wisconsin 2001
B.A. Psychology – Wisconsin 1999
 
Playing Experience
Wisconsin 1995-98
 

What They are Saying

College Football Hall of Fame Coach Dennis Erickson
"Jason is an outstanding coach and has done a great job at every place he's been.  He brings experience and the right personality where the players will love him and play hard for him.  He's a great guy and brings an awesome family back to Moscow.  He will do a great job for the Vandals!"

College Football Hall of Fame Coach Barry Alvarez
"Jason played for me and later coached with me as a graduate assistant.  His father was a coach and he's always been a student of the game.  I've followed his career closely, and he's been successful everywhere he's been.  He's innovative, he's creative, and he's a great teacher.  This is a fantastic hire for the University of Idaho."

Washington State Head Coach Jake Dickert
"During my time with Jason, he has proven to be an elite teacher of the game, an innovative offensive mind, and someone who can really inspire his players to maximize their abilities.  His passion for the game will energize the Vandal Fan base, and his commitment to excellence will elevate the program to new heights.  We welcome the Eck Family back to the Palouse and wish him the best of luck, except week one."

Oregon State Head Coach Jonathan Smith
"Jason Eck is great hire to lead the Idaho Football Program! Jason is a elite offensive mind, a leader of men and a person of integrity. Jason has had success at every stop of his coaching career and I know that will continue with the Vandals."

New Orleans Saints Running Backs Coach/ Vandal Hall of Famer Joel Thomas
"I've known Coach Eck for 20+ yrs from our G.A. days and then working alongside him during our tenure at Idaho during the 04-05 seasons.  I can say this without hesitation, he is a perfect fit for the job at hand!  His dedication to the game through detail, passion combined with relentless desire to win will run through the team and community.  I'm truly excited for him and his family to be back in Moscow to embrace the community and for that awesome community to embrace them back.  He would've been a leader in the locker rooms that I was blessed to be a part of, now he has the opportunity to lead the entire Vandal Family!!!  Go Vandals."