POCATELLO — Even with plenty of change, including two new coordinators, Idaho State's first spring practice was mostly stress-free.

Players bounced from drill to drill without missing a beat, while coaches old and new fell into place. Everything was smooth and seamless — according to plan.

Nearly a year ago, Bengals head coach Rob Phenicie was fraught with nerves when he took the field for ISU's spring opener. He had been hired as the head coach a week earlier and had to scramble to get his plan into place.

On what was essentially the first day of year two of the Phenicie era, the feelings weren't hurried and scrambled, but excited and ready.

“I definitely wasn't as nervous coming out here as I was last year at this time,” Phenicie said after Thursday's practice at the ICCU Practice Fields outside Holt Arena. “We've been over this day-one install probably for a month now, so we we're getting kind of sick of not being able to come out and practice it. Now that we got to come out and practice it, it was fun. No one was antsy and everyone knew what to expect, unlike last year (when) it was all new. That's what I think helped everybody a little bit.”

The Bengals debuted Mike Ferriter and Roger Cooper as their new offensive and defensive coordinators, respectively, as well as Jay Staggs as the new safeties coach and Roman Sapolu heading the offensive line. Tanner Gueller began his final spring as the team's starting quarterback, and a handful of newcomers participated in their first ISU practice. Ferriter quietly moved the offense through drills, contrasting predecessor Matt Troxel's ear-piercing style. Cooper showcased a 3-4 defense he's pledged to stick with, bucking the trend of swapping base formations from season to season.

Cooper and Ferriter both have deep histories with Phenicie and Idaho State, further simplifying any adjustments they'll make as first-year coordinators.

“Spring ball is pretty important for the coaches, as well,” Phenicie said. “The players need to get used to them. The new coaches need to get used to our system and how we run things out here.”

Gueller led a group of four quarterbacks including Gunnar Amos, Mike Goggin and Drew Cash. Snow College transfer Preston Holfeltz and redshirt junior Dakota Wilson filled the voids left by Skyler Phillips and Chase Collins on the right side of the offensive line. James Madison, Ty Flanagan and Nehemiah McFarlin filled out a condensed running back corps. Scooby Reynolds, Michael Dean and Isaiah Brimmer were unavailable and watched from the sidelines as their fellow wide receivers strengthened the position's already brimming depth.

“We've been itching for a while to get back out here,” Gueller said. “Definitely a lot of preparation in the last few months, Xs and Os-wise.”

On defense, ISU showcased its speed with four linebackers across the middle of the defense. Joe Martin was out with an injury and Kody Graves was absent, but capable fill-ins Oshea Trujillo and Kennon Smith teamed with Christian Holland and Paea Moala to highlight the traditional strength of ISU's defense.

Thursday marked Moala's first spring practice with ISU. The senior made his debut last fall as a transfer from Butte College in California and worked his way into the starting lineup by mid-season.

“It feels good,” Moala said. “I want to hurry up and get into pads.”

The front and back ends of ISU's defense were mixtures of returners and newcomers. Junior transfer Christian McFarland worked with the second-team unit at safety, and former BYU defensive lineman Kainoa Fuiava played as a second-team defensive end. Former Boise State defensive back Jace Richter was seen with the backup safeties, and senior safety Jayson Miller was back in action with the starters after missing 10 games last season.

“More guys are more bought in,” Moala said. “They want to push each other to do better regardless of our situation.”

ISU Spring Practice 1