POCATELLO, Idaho – Idaho State Football has announced the hiring of Josh Runda as the next Defensive Coordinator for the Bengals. Runda comes to the Bengals from Iowa State where he served as a defensive assistant.
"Josh Runda will be an outstanding addition to the Pocatello community," said Head Coach Cody Hawkins. "He is first and foremost an amazing person who has dedicated himself to the mentorship of student-athletes. He has played and coached in a dynamic system that will allow our team to establish an identity on Defense and will play to the strength of the type of players we want to recruit. Blue-Collar kids who compete with integrity and a passion for the game and their community.
He's been a coordinator on Defense and Special Teams at the collegiate level before, so his experience will be evident immediately. I am so excited for our team to meet him and his fiancée, Nikki. The Idaho State University will be better because of them!"
In 2022, Runda finished his second season as a Quality Control assistant for the Iowa State defense.
In 2021, The Cyclone defense was second in the Big 12 and ninth nationally in total defense at 310.5, only allowing two teams to amass 350 yards of offense en route to the school's lowest total defensive output since 1984.
ISU also equaled its season record for sacks (33) and ranked ninth in the nation in passing defense (187.8) to earn a trip to the Cheez-It Bowl.
Runda previously was the defensive coordinator at Bluffton (Ohio) for three seasons (2018-21). In the spring of 2021, Runda helped mentor freshman Montez Archer Jr., who was named the Heartland Conference's Defensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year.
A native of Lima, Ohio, Runda spent one season as a linebackers coach at the University of Indianapolis (2017) and was the special teams coordinator and defensive line coach at Ohio Wesleyan in 2016.
Runda played for Iowa State Assistant Head Coach Tyson Veidt at Bluffton.
Runda was a three-time all-conference linebacker at Bluffton, earning his bachelor's (2014) and master's (2016) from the school.
"I'm excited and appreciate the opportunity to join Coach Hawkins's staff," remarked Runda. "From the first phone call, I could tell how genuine Coach Hawkins is. We share a vision and values that make this a great fit. I'm excited to be in Pocatello and join Bengal Nation!"
