Northwest Notes Feb. 8, 2025

Former Idaho coach Akey hired at Oregon State

Robb Akey, the former Idaho head coach and Washington State assistant coach, has been hired as special assistant to the head coach for Oregon State football, Beavers head coach Trent Bray announced.

Akey has spent 35 years as a collegiate coach, including the last six as the defensive coordinator at Central Michigan.

"Robb is a knowledgeable and well-respected defensive coach," Bray said in a news release. "He's a veteran coach who has been successful at multiple levels, including the FBS, NFL and FCS. He is going to play a big role in our future defensive success."

Akey served as the head coach at Idaho from 2007-12, leading the Vandals to an 8-5 record in 2009 and an appearance in the Humanitarian Bowl.

Akey was the defensive coordinator at Washington State from 2003-06 and the Cougars' defensive line coach from 1999-2002. WSU won a Pac-10 title during Akey's tenure, won two bowl games and tallied three top-10 finishes in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.

Akey was at Florida as an assistant in 2017.

He coached the defensive line for the Washington Redskins in 2015 and 2016, one year after serving as the assistant defensive line coach for the Minnesota Vikings.

He served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Northern Arizona from 1995-98.

Akey opened his coaching career at his alma mater, Weber State, from 1989-94. He coached the team's defensive line and was the special teams coordinator for the Wildcats.