Former BYU LB, Coach Kelly Poppinga Reportedly Returning To Alma Mater

PROVO, Utah – Former BYU football linebacker and assistant coach Kelly Poppinga is returning to his alma mater. That’s according to a report from Bronco Nation News Publisher B.J. Rains.

Poppinga is currently the Co-Special Teams Coordinator and EDGEs coach for Boise State. He’s in his first season with the Broncos after spending six seasons on Bronco Mendenhall’s staff at Virginia.

In Rains’ report, he states that Popping will take a position on BYU’s staff. However, he doesn’t specify which position. In addition, BYU has not responded to Poppinga’s reported hiring.

One week ago, Ilaisa Tuiaki announced he was stepping down as BYU’s defensive coordinator. After that announcement from Tuiaki, BYU announced that “Once in place, the new defensive coordinator will work with Sitake to determine any defensive staff needs.”

Poppinga worked at BYU from 2009-15, starting as a defensive intern and climbing to special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach. During his time as an assistant at BYU, Poppinga was instrumental in landing a signature from former BYU star and current All-Pro 49ers linebacker Fred Warner. Warner signed with BYU over offers from USC and other Pac-12 universities back in 2014.

Along with Warner, Poppinga coached Kyle Van Noy and Sione Takitaki. All three players are still in the NFL today.

As a player, Poppinga played at BYU from 2005-07 after transferring in from Wyoming. He was part of BYU’s 3-4 defensive alignment that won two Mountain West Conference Championships.

BYU football will close out the 2022 season against the SMU Mustangs in the New Mexico Bowl on December 17.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Mitch will be in Albuquerque for the 2022 New Mexico Bowl between BYU and SMU. Follow his coverage on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.

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