Idaho announces Levenseller hiring

For at least two months, Mike Levenseller — the former longtime Washington State assistant — has served as a consultant to Robb Akey at Idaho. With his contract at WSU officially expired, Levenseller was announced this afternoon as Idaho's receivers coach and passing game coordinator. 

Read on for more.

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Akey's staff is close to being complete after an offseason overhaul. Jason Gesser is the team's offensive coordinator. Gordy Shaw, who was at Hawaii the last three years, is the run game coordinator and offensive line coach. And now Levenseller, who was at WSU for 19 seasons, takes over for Luther Carr as the receivers coach — while also becoming the passing game coordinator.

Akey has said previously that Gesser will work extensively in coming up with a game plan with his assistants. And it's clear why: Shaw and Levenseller have decades of experience, while Gesser is in his second year coaching collegiately.

Here's the Idaho release:

MOSCOW, Idaho – It’s official. Mike Levenseller is a member of the University of Idaho football coaching staff as the Vandals’ receivers coach and passing game coordinator.

Levenseller reunites with Robb Akey on the Vandal staff after having served with Idaho’s head coach for seven years at neighboring Washington State University. Levenseller joined the Cougar staff in 1992 and Akey was hired in 1999. Both were coordinators for the Cougars during their tenures at WSU with Akey leaving to become Idaho’s head coach in 2007.

“We’ve won a lot of game together,” Akey said. “We couldn’t get a better hire than we were able to get with Mike Levenseller. I’m really fired up to have him join our football staff.”

Levenseller is a native of Tacoma, Wash., and a graduate of Curtis High School and Washington State University. He was a receiver for the Cougars and was a two-time all-Pacific 8 choice as well as an Associated Press all-West Coast first-team selection and an honorable mention all-American by the AP. He is a member of the Washington State Athletic and Pacific Northwest Football halls of fame.

“He is one of the best receivers coaches in the country,” Akey said. “He’s a great teacher. He’s a great technician. He is exactly what we need for our wide receiver outfit.”

Akey’s praise is underscored by Levenseller’s successes, which includes the top 10 single-season receiving efforts (himself included) in WSU history.

Levenseller was a sixth-round draft pick (Oakland Raiders) in 1978. During his three years in the NFL, he played for Buffalo, Tampa Bay and Cincinnati. He also played in the CFL and was a member of the 1982 Grey Cup champion Edmonton Eskimos.

His first coaching stint was with the British Columbia Lions as a guest coach. From there, he went to Toronto and then on to Washington State.