After a 5-7 2024 campaign -- another step forward for his program -- Cody Hawkins is pushing for more in 2025.
He's adding a top assistant coach from a key Big Sky Conference rival in the process.
Sources tell FootballScoop that Hawkins is tabbing Grant Duff as Idaho State's new defensive coordinator.
A 10-year veteran of the Weber State staff, the last three of which he's served as co-defensive coordinator, Duff also has significant Power Conference experience from five seasons on Kyle Whittingham's Utah Utes staff, where Duff worked closely with Jay Hill.
After arriving at Weber State in a supporting role, Duff climbed the coaching ranks as a position coach who worked with defensive tackles before he added the co-coordinator duties prior to the 2022 season.
Despite a disappointing 4-8 2024 campaign for Weber State, the program's defense that Duff helped orchestrate limited five opponents to 21 or fewer points.
Hawkins has guided Idaho State on an upward trajectory since he took over as head coach. The Bengals went from one win in 2022 to three wins in 2023 and a five-win campaign that wrapped up last weekend; two of their losses were by four points apiece.
Duff is a BYU-Idaho graduate who earned his master's during his time at Utah.