BOZEMAN — Montana State’s all-time winningest quarterback is headed to the National Football League.
DeNarius McGhee will join the Houston Texans staff, sources tell MTN Sports on Tuesday. The former Montana State quarterback has been on Jeff Choate’s coaching staff in Bozeman for the past three seasons.
“DeNarius did very good work in a number of roles on our staff,” Choate said in an MSU release. “He brought energy and a tireless work ethic every day, and his personality and passion are infectious. This is an exciting opportunity, and I wish him the best.”
McGhee was a four-year starter for former MSU coach Rob Ash, leading the Bobcats to a share of Big Sky Conference championships in 2010, 2011 and 2012. The Big Sky Conference MVP in 2010 and 2012, MSU’s only two-time league most valuable player, McGhee was an all-American selection his senior season. His 11,203 career passing yards and 79 touchdowns remain program records, as do the 36 wins he helped compile between 2010 and 2013.
McGhee began his coaching career at Florida Atlantic in 2014 and was an offensive graduate assistant at North Carolina State from 2015-16. He became Montana State’s quarterbacks coach in 2017, then switched to running backs the following season.
Under his tutelage, former quarterback Chris Murray and current running back Isaiah Ifanse garnered all-conference and all-American honors, with Ifanse breaking numerous program records the past two seasons, including the program’s single-season freshman rushing record with 1,057 yards in 2018. Montana State led the league and was eighth in the nation in rushing yards this fall, advancing to the program’s first semifinal since 1984.
Since the Bobcats' season ended with a loss at eventual champion North Dakota State, the program has now lost two assistant coaches. Matt Miller left MSU to join the staff at Boise State.
McGhee, who was married last summer, was a part of the NFL’s Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Texans are coached by Bill O’Brien and advanced to the AFC Divisional Round, falling to the Chiefs 51-31 on Jan. 12.
McGhee attended Trinity High School in Euless, Texas where he led the Trojans to the 5A Division I championship game. He also participated in basketball, baseball and track and field.
McGhee's move was first reported by Skyline Sports.
