Utah State Swinging Big With Bronco Mendenhall Hiring
Dec 6, 2024, 2:52 PM | Updated: Dec 17, 2024, 2:19 pm
LOGAN, Utah – Following a tumultuous season on the gridiron that failed to meet expectations, the Utah State Aggies are turning the page to Bronco Mendenhall after agreeing to a six-year contract with the college coaching veteran. USU will formally introduce the former BYU head coach at a press conference on Monday, December 9.
Utah State Director of Athletics Diana Sabau joined Hans & Scotty on KSL Sports Zone on Friday, December 6.
“Since I’ve been in Logan, it is special,” Sabau said. “I want everyone to believe that Utah State will accomplish the uncommon. I want everyone to know that we will be successful; we will compete in academics and athletics, and we will be strong representatives in the community.”
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Sabau continued, “When we can all start believing nothing is impossible, that’s how I look at every coaching search. It’s about the people. It’s about the fit with our institution and with our student-athletes in the community… It was very important to find someone who not only had a very high football IQ, a very high emotional IQ, and someone that valued academics and developing young people.”
Mendenhall began his head coaching career in 2004 with BYU. He led the Cougars to five ten-win seasons and a 99-43 record in 11 seasons. His experience with BYU and familiarity with Utah were essential factors in his hiring, following a 5-7 season with New Mexico in 2024.
“Bronco Mendenhall develops young men,” Sabau said of her most recent hire. “He has proven leaders throughout his program. He has hundreds of young men who have gone on to be professionals in business, in society, and in the NFL. He became a differentiator of developing young men, of his academic success, and, quite frankly, his ability to take programs and to mold and craft them into ideal programmatic systems.”
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Sabau stressed that Mendenhall will get right to work with the winter transfer portal period opens on Monday, December 9. The AD did not speculate on the possibility of coaches from last year’s staff remaining with the program.
“Building his staff is a priority,” Sabau said of Mendenhall’s next step. “Then, getting his feet where his heart will be here in Logan. Bronco emphasizes consistency. You can see it in his program. He is a believer and builder of character, discipline, and excellence in every way that he is involved with a football program, with a university, with a community.”
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here.
