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Boise State University head coach Chris Petersen announced the hiring of Jimmy Lake as the Broncos’ defensive backs coach and defensive pass game coordinator Tuesday.

Lake joins the Broncos from the National Football League, where he coached defensive backs for both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2010-11) and the Detroit Lions (2008). He also served as the Buccaneers’ assistant defensive backs coach from 2006-07.

“Jimmy (Lake) brings a lot of experience and knowledge to our program,” Petersen said. “He is an awesome person and the players are going to love playing for him.”

Anchored by five-time Pro Bowler Ronde Barber, Lake’s defensive backs finished seventh in the league in pass defense in 2010.

Prior to coaching in the professional ranks, Lake served as the secondary coach at Montana State University in 2005. The Bobcats’ defense finished the season ranked No. 1 in the Big Sky Conference, and his secondary allowed a conference-low 165.6 passing yards per game.

Lake also coached cornerbacks and nickelbacks at the University of Washington in 2004. The Huskies’ secondary ranked first in the then-Pacific-10 Conference and 17th-nationally in pass defense.

He began his coaching career at Eastern Washington University – his alma mater – as an undergraduate assistant in 1999. From 2000-03, Lake coached the Eagles’ secondary.

As a student-athlete as EWU, Lake earned honorable mention All-Big Sky honors at strong safety, and was also an All-Big Sky Academic selection. He graduated in 2000 with a degree in business administration.