Northeastern State University Athletics

Jarek Broussard is in his third season as Running Backs Coach on the Northeastern State Football staff.

In 2025, Broussard helped guide Northeastern State to one of the most productive rushing seasons in program history. The RiverHawks averaged 5.3 yards per carry, their highest mark since 2001, and 156.3 rushing yards per game, their best average since 2013. NSU also rushed for 33 touchdowns, its most in a season since 1999 and more than the team's combined total of 31 rushing scores over the previous 40 games dating back to October 2021.

Under Broussard's direction, Ramon McKinney Jr. emerged as one of the top running backs in NSU history with a campaign that registers near the top of the program's history books. The true sophomore became Northeastern State's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2012, finishing with 1,093 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns while averaging 6.7 yards per carry. His rushing yardage total was the program's highest since 1999, while his yards-per-carry average and touchdown total were the best since 2001 and 1999, respectively. Each ranked third in program single-season history.

Broussard also developed a strong supporting cast in Ethan Washington and Kacie Riley, who combined for 10 rushing touchdowns while providing depth behind McKinney. Washington led the RiverHawks with 17 carries in the First Americans Bowl, rushing for 88 yards and a touchdown in the team's 56-21 victory over East Central.

The RiverHawks' rushing attack reached another milestone on Sept. 20 against Westgate Christian, tying a program record with eight rushing touchdowns. Running backs accounted for seven of those scores while helping the offense compile 366 rushing yards, narrowly missing the top 10 single-game rushing totals in school history.

In 2024, Broussard assisted in developing a young position group, led by true freshman Ramon McKinney Jr. McKinney would go on to collect 892 yards of total offense and tally 11 scores, including seven on the ground. Despite over 75% of the team's rushing yards being accounted for by freshmen and sophomores, the unit gained 558 additional yards from the previous season, improving by 0.7 yards per attempt. The ground game, under Broussard's leadership, added 40.8 more rushing yards per game, scoring 11 more touchdowns than the previous season.

Broussard joined the program in 2024 after a successful playing career. He was the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2020 at the University of Colorado and played for NSU head coach Darrin Chiaverini when he was the Offensive Coordinator for the Buffaloes.  Broussard finished his CU career 31st on CU’s all-time rushing list with 1,474 yards, averaging 5.44 yards per carry.

During the 2020 season, Broussard led the Pac-12 and Power 5 in rushing and was third nationally, becoming the first CU player to lead a conference in rushing since 2002. 

Broussard was one of three winners of the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award, rebounding from two ACL surgeries which forced him from missing the majority of the 2019 season. 

He was rated as a 3-star recruit out of High School where he garnered first-team TAPPS All-State and All-District honors as a wide receiver both seasons.

Broussard majored in ethnic studies at Colorado and was a recipient of the Clancy A. Herbst Jr. Student-Athlete Achievement Award in 2021, given to CU student-athletes for overcoming personal, academic or emotional challenges or difficulties to success both academically and athletically.