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62 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, September 12, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 23, 2003 Oregon State graduate assistant Brandon Boice, right, gives instructions to safety Jeremy Hoover during a recent practice. Boice, a former Beaver linebacker, helps coach the defense. Boice a boon to Beavers Former South Medford High coach now a graduate assistant at Oregon State By KRIS HENRY Mail Tribune Brandon Boice faced a crossroads this past February. He was 2½ years removed from work as a blue-collar linebacker at Oregon State University. Only a couple months prior, he played an assisting role in South Medford High’s greatest football season to date. Advertisement And yet there he was, an Oregon state trooper with 2½ years experience being laid off from a position he valued as a way for him to do some good in his home state. Not exactly the kind of situation anyone in their mid-20s wants to be in. Boice, however, took it all in stride and plotted out another path. "The whole time I was working in law enforcement," says the 27-year-old, "there wasn’t a day that went by that I didn’t really believe I was supposed to be coaching. It just seemed meant to be." Enter Mike Riley, one of three head coaches Boice played for at Oregon State (Jerry Pettibone, Riley and Dennis Erickson). Boice called on Riley after the head coach was appointed to his second term with the Beavers, and the topic eventually turned to a graduate assistant position with OSU. An interview or two here, a solid r�sum� there and suddenly Boice found himself at the top of a list of around 200 other applicants. "Everything just kind of fell into place after that," says Boice, who was born in Medford but was a standout prep student-athlete in Gold Beach. "It couldn’t have worked out any better to be honest with you." Making the decision that much easier was the support Boice received from his wife Sara, also of Medford. "She didn’t even hesitate (to give her approval)," Boice says. "She’s known from the first day we met what’s been on my heart, and that’s coaching football." These days, Boice is hard at work breaking down video of OSU’s opponents for scouting reports. He’s a hands-on assistant during practices and says the rest of Riley’s staff has been extremely accepting of his input. In his role with the Beavers, Boice primarily works with the defensive line under Greg Newhouse, who coached the linebackers when Boice was a player. "Honestly, I’m pretty fortunate to be in the position I’m in," says Boice, who played in 44 games for OSU from 1996-99. "There are a lot of great coaches on this staff." Much like his two-year run as a defensive assistant under Bill Singler at South Medford High. "It was a privilege to work with and coach for Bill," says Boice. "I just can’t say enough about him and all the other guys on his staff. Bill gave me the opportunity to coach, and I’ll appreciate him forever. "It was just fun to be on a winning team and working with such great guys because I was constantly learning." Singler says it’s that very nature that will make Boice a hot commodity in the coaching world. "He’s a terrific young coach," says the sixth-year Panther coach. "He’s going to add a lot at Oregon State. He just has a terrific knowledge and enthusiasm for the game of football. I think this is a great step for Brandon, and I think it speaks well for South Medford." Boice firmly believes it was his experience gained at South that made the biggest difference when he applied to be a graduate assistant at OSU. "Even with the connection I have with coach Riley," he says, "I can’t guarantee I would have been in this situation without Bill and what I learned in my two years with him and his great staff." Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. 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