Virginia hires BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall
Virginia will hire BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall, a source toldSI’s Thayer Evans. Virginia later confirmed the hire.
Jerry Ratcliffe of The Daily Progress first reported the news. Virginia announced Mendenhall has agreed to a five-year contract, with annual compensation beginning at $3.25 million. He will continue to coach BYU through the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 19, according to a source.
Mendenhall, 49, has coached the Cougars since 2005, with a 99–42 record in 11 seasons as head coach. BYU has made 10 straight bowl games during his tenure and won Mountain West titles in 2006 and 2007. The Cougars went 9–3 this season.
“Professionally and personally I seek to embrace the highest standards in college sports, on and off the field, and I love the high standards both academically and athletically at Virginia,” Mendenhall said in a statement. “I am excited to not only help provide the continual growth and development of the student athletes academically but also reestablish Virginia as a consistent winner with a fiercely competitive and winning product on the football field."
Mendenhall replaces Mike London, who stepped down as head coach of the Cavaliers after six seasons. Virginia went a disappointing 4–8 in 2015.
“Bronco Mendenhall’s teams have consistently won at a high level and he’s demonstrated the ability to create a strategic vision to build a program and then implement his plan to be successful,” Virginia athletic director Craig Littlepage said. “His emphasis on the overall development of student athletes and a commitment to academic achievement is in line with our goals of Uncompromised Excellence. We’re excited to begin a new era of Virginia football and support Bronco and his staff.”
- Jeremy Woo
