DeKerchove, a Boise native and lifelong Bronco fan, discovered the equipment room late in his undergraduate career. After just one season, the opportunity to join the MAL program was an easy decision.
“That was the easiest yes I’ve ever had in my life,” DeKerchove said. “I thought, ‘absolutely, I want to keep doing this.’”
Hudson’s path was slightly different. He didn’t start in equipment until his senior year at Eastern Washington. A connection between his supervisor and Schulte opened the door for him to join Boise State’s staff as a graduate assistant in 2023.
“It was almost fate,” Hudson said. “I called Dale, told him I was moving to Boise, and it just happened that a GA spot opened up. Everything lined up perfectly.”
For both, the MAL program offered more than a degree. It was a front-row seat to the inner workings of a major college athletics program, and a chance to grow as leaders in a high-pressure environment.
Graduate assistants in the equipment room handle responsibilities similar to full-time staff: managing laundry, preparing practice and game-day gear, assisting with trips, and leading undergraduate workers.
“You really learn what it takes to run a program,” DeKerchove said. “It’s a lot of work, but you get to see how much goes into every single thing the players and coaches do.”
Hudson echoed that sentiment.
“You don’t realize how much work goes on behind the scenes until you’re in it. The laundry, packing trips, making sure every little thing is ready for practice or a game. It’s all critical.”
The day-to-day demands of the Boise State equipment room mirror what’s expected at the professional level. For DeKerchove and Hudson, the foundation they built in Boise prepared them for the NFL.
“Having the College Football Playoff experience helped a lot with what I do now,” Hudson said. “Blake and Dale were always willing to explain anything I needed or had questions about.”
“The MAL program really primed me to step into a leadership role in the equipment room,” added DeKerchove. “I owe so much to Scott Moorcroft. The program truly helped me a lot.”