athletic director gene bleymaier hired graham to be head coach at boise state in 2002. in eight seasons, graham had a 142–112 record at boise state and led boise state to a berth in the 2004 nit, 2008 ncaa tournament and 2009 cbi. for leading boise state to the ncaa tournament, the western athletic conference named graham "coach of the year" in 2008.