After an anticlimactic season defined by thin margins and missed opportunities, the Idaho Vandals are turning to a familiar face in hopes of reigniting one of the most critical phases of the game. Joe Begnal is returning to Moscow as the new special teams coordinator, replacing Neil Fendall and stepping into a role that proved pivotal in Idaho’s disappointing 2025 campaign.
Begnal previously worked at Idaho as a special teams quality control coach for the 2022 season, giving him familiarity with the program’s culture and expectations.
Just one year removed from three consecutive FCS postseason appearances, expectations were high for Idaho entering last fall. Instead, the Vandals struggled to close out tight games, particularly in Big Sky Conference play. A major culprit was special teams. Idaho finished in the bottom third of the Big Sky in every major special teams category and ranked dead last in field goal percentage, PAT percentage, average punting yardage and average punt return yardage.
“Coach Begnal brings a wealth of special teams experience to the program,” head coach Thomas Ford Jr. said in Idaho Athletics press release. “He was my right-hand man in 2022 when I was the special teams coordinator and has since been to three FBS schools improving his craft…Joe will bring energy, toughness, and instill a ‘get to’ attitude when it comes to special teams here in Moscow.”
Begnal was most recently at Michigan State, serving as the assistant special teams coordinator over the past two seasons. Ford says he excels at building relationships with players across all position groups.
Prior to his time at Michigan State, Begnal spent time at Memphis and Colorado State, continuing to build his résumé at the FBS level.
For Ford, who reshaped much of his staff following the 2025 season, Begnal’s hire may represent the final piece in a broader reset. The Vandals’ struggles last season often came down to missed kicks, inconsistent punting and a lack of explosive returns, small details that loom large in competitive conference games.
If Begnal can replicate the developmental success he experienced at the FBS level and instill an edge in Idaho’s special teams, the unit could quickly become one of the team’s strengths, as it typically was under Jason Eck.