Former New Mexico, Virginia and BYU head coach to guide Aggies into subsequent chapter
Football
12/6/2024 8:07:00 AM
Former New Mexico, Virginia and BYU head coach to guide Aggies into subsequent chapter
LOGAN, Utah (Dec. 6, 2024) — Utah State University Vice President and Director of Athletics Diana Sabau introduced immediately the hiring of Bronco Mendenhall because the Aggies’ thirty first head soccer coach. He will signal a six-year contract.
“Bronco is among the most skilled coaches in faculty soccer. His management, confirmed observe document, and deep understanding of the sport make him the perfect option to elevate our program,” Sabau mentioned. “Bronco’s success goes far past soccer. He has a deep connection and take care of rising younger males. His student-athletes are confirmed leaders. He has persistently constructed packages that emphasize character, self-discipline, and excellence in each facet of their lives.”
Mendenhall returns to Utah after serving as the top coach of the University of New Mexico the previous yr. In complete, the Alpine, Utah, native has 18 years of head teaching expertise, together with a six-year stint on the University of Virginia and 11 seasons at Brigham Young University.
“Athletics is a crucial a part of the Utah State University expertise, and the success of our soccer program is on the forefront,” mentioned Utah State University President Elizabeth R. Cantwell. “The influence {that a} championship-level soccer program can have on the profile of the college, the student-body expertise, with our alumni and within the Cache Valley neighborhood, is immeasurable. Bronco Mendenhall is totally proper for this second at USU and he’ll assist propel us into an important future.”
Mendenhall has 140-88 profession document as a head coach, together with taking Virginia to its first Orange Bowl in 2019. More than 60 of Mendenhall’s former gamers have signed contracts to play within the NFL.
“My ardour is creating younger folks and remodeling soccer packages to succeed in their full potential,” Mendenhall mentioned. “Utah State supplies an important alternative to do each and permits a household focus that’s important to me and Holly. We sit up for including to Utah State’s wealthy custom and striving for soccer excellence.”
Mendenhall’s transfer permits him to be nearer to his 93-year-old mom, Lenore Mendenhall, who lives in Alpine.
He was named the Mountain West Coach of the Year in 2006 and was nominated by the Football Writers Association of America as one of many 9 finalists for the illustrious Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award.
During BYU’s six-year tenure as a member of the Mountain West beneath Mendenhall, the crew gained two convention championships. He led the Cougars to a bowl recreation look in every of his 11 seasons as head coach and through that point, BYU was certainly one of solely 11 packages in the entire FBS to go to a bowl in all 11 years. Under Mendenhall, BYU tied for seventh amongst all FBS packages for essentially the most Academic All-American awardees.
After leaving Provo, Mendenhall was employed as the top coach at Virginia in 2016. Taking over a struggling program that had not posted a profitable document in 5 seasons, Mendenhall led a robust turnaround. The crew made bowl video games in three consecutive years starting in 2017, and gained the Atlantic Coast Conference Coastal Division in 2019 with a 6-2 mark, taking part in Clemson for the ACC title.
Virginia was bowl eligible in his remaining 5 seasons, the longest streak at school historical past since 1996-2000.
After a two-year hiatus from teaching, Mendenhall returned to the Mountain West, taking up as head coach of New Mexico. In his lone season, the Lobos went 5-7, with two gamers being named first-team all-MW, and 9 general receiving all-conference honors. New Mexico ranked fourth within the FBS in complete yards, averaging 484.2 per recreation.
A Utah native, Mendenhall graduated from American Fork High School. He started his collegiate taking part in profession at Snow College, the place he was an All-American and crew captain through the crew’s NJCAA National Championship season in 1985. From there, he performed security for Oregon State University, the place he served as captain his senior season and later as a graduate assistant on the soccer workers. He would later coach as an assistant at Snow College, Northern Arizona, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico, and BYU.
Mendenhall and his spouse, Holly, have three sons Cutter, Breaker and Raeder.
