BYU offensive football players who wanted a fresh start for 2018 are going to get their opportunity.
The Cougars announced Wednesday afternoon that new offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes will have an offensive staff with three new coaches as they hired former Utah offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick as the passing game coordinator, and Weber State offensive coordinator Fesi Sitake and Texas-San Antonio offensive line coach Ryan Pugh as assistant coaches.
According to the press release, the only current offensive coach to remain on the BYU staff was Steve Clark, who coached the tight ends under former offensive coordinator Ty Detmer.
New NCAA rules allow college football programs to add a 10th assistant coach to their staff starting on Jan. 9. The Cougars will announce their final staff member at that point as well as establishing specific position responsibilities.
Here is a look at each of the three new staff members, as detailed by the BYU press release:
This addition was the least surprising, given Roderick's experience, his familiarity with BYU head coach Kalani Sitake and his work with the Cougars as a special consultant last year.
“I have worked on the same staff with Aaron for 12 years, so I know firsthand how Aaron’s versatility and experience will be a tremendous asset to our staff,” Kalani Sitake said in the release. “He brings valuable play-calling and coordinating experience and his ability to teach the game is impressive. As we all know, Aaron played here (1996-98) as well so I’m happy to welcome Aaron back to BYU."
After his playing days, Roderick was a graduate assistant at BYU as he started what has become and 18-year coaching career. He also had stops at Southern Utah, Snow College and BYU.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to work at BYU and return to my alma mater,” Roderick said in the release. “I look forward to working again with Kalani Sitake, someone I have a great deal of respect for as both a person and a coach. I am eager to work with Coach Grimes on his staff and contribute to the success of BYU football.”
This was a name that was being discussed as a potential offensive coordinator, given his recent success running the offense at Weber State.
“Fesi is one of the game’s up-and-coming young coordinators. He has done a great job with his opportunities to build a strong resume and improved his team wherever he has been," Kalani Sitake said in the release. "He is an excellent recruiter and excels as a mentor to his players. I’m excited to have him come to BYU and help teach the young men in our program."
Fesi Sitake has seven years of coaching experience as well as having ties to BYU.
“I am thrilled to be a part of Cougar Nation. My father graduated from BYU, and I've had many family members come through this amazing institution, so it's a surreal moment for my family and me to embark on this journey at BYU,” Fesi Sitake said in the press release. “I am so grateful for President Worthen, Vice President Richardson, Tom Holmoe and Coach Kalani Sitake for trusting me with this opportunity. I also want to thank Jerry Bovee and Coach (Jay) Hill for an incredible experience at Weber State. I've been around some incredible coaches in my career, and I'm excited to bring the knowledge I've gained to this program. I look forward to mentoring the young men I associate with and contributing to what is an already rich tradition at BYU.”
The reaction of many Cougar football fans to the hiring announcement of Pugh was probably, "who's that?"
But according to the BYU press release, Pugh has the most connections with Grimes, which will give him an advantage as he comes to Provo.
“Ryan is an impressive young coach with great leadership qualities and a championship mindset," Kalani Sitake said in the press release. "Jeff (Grimes) coached Ryan as a player at Auburn, where he was an All-American center. Ryan knows well what Jeff strives to accomplish as a coach, having not only played for him, but also coached alongside him already at Auburn, Virginia Tech and LSU.”
Pugh will be the youngest coach on the offensive staff at age 29 but has six years of experience, including the past two seasons as the offensive line coach at the University of Texas San Antonio. Pugh worked as a graduate assistant under Grimes at Auburn (2012), Virginia Tech (2013) and LSU (2015). He also had a graduate assistant stop at Cincinnati in 2014.
“My wife and I are extremely grateful to Coach Sitake for the opportunity to join the Cougar football program,” Pugh said in the press release. “BYU is a national brand and iconic program with a storied history of success that I am humbled to now be a part of. I also want to thank Coach (Frank) Wilson and UTSA for a great two years in San Antonio. I cannot wait to be in Provo and get to work with the outstanding coaches and young men at BYU.”