Dr. Patricia Ourada taught history at Boise State University from 1962 until 1993. She served as president of the Faculty Association and as a member of the Faculty Senate. She was the advisor for the Dama Soghop Club, an organization for Native American students. She was a co-founder of the Idaho history Conference, served as a consultant to several history projects, and participated on panels concerning minority issues.

In 1975, she created and taught a course titled "History of Sports and the American Ideal." She was a chair on the President's Committee on Women's Athletics, which directed Boise State's compliance with Title IX and set the touchstone for equitable funding, practice time, and travel for the women's athletic program.

In 1990, the Athletic Department awarded Ourada a contract to write a book on their sicty-year history, which turned into The Broncos: An Illustrated History of Athletics at Boise State University.

The primary source for the book was the University ARchives. Presidential files, athletic programs, student newspapers and press books became sources for research. Photographs from the archives were reproduced for the book. Fans and former athletes donated papers and personal memorabilia to the study. Ourada conducted interviews with players and coaches. Members of the press wrote of their memories and Ourada included columns of Jim Poore, Idaho Statesman sports editor.