The unofficial has become official: Ken Schmidt has succeeded Dick Felt as defensive coordinator of the BYU football team.
The 1991 BYU football media guide arrived in press mailboxes Tuesday, and in the section under "Assistant Coaches," Schmidt is listed as defensive coordinator, outside linebackers coach; Felt as assistant head coach, secondary coach.Felt had open-heart surgery last August, causing him to miss half of last season, during which time Schmidt took over the defensive reins.
Felt returned in mid-October to share defensive duties with Schmidt, but he suffered more heart problems and missed the final regular-season game, in Hawaii.
This year, Felt chose to take it a little easier and allow Schmidt - who led the defense during spring drills - to take over the coordinator's job.
Felt isn't necessarily leaving Schmidt in an enviable position. The youthful Cougar defense faces early challenges in the form of highly ranked Florida State, UCLA and Penn State. BYU has five returning starters but lost its entire defensive line from a squad that finished poorly against Hawaii and Texas A&M.
Schmidt is a nine-year veteran of the BYU staff. A native of Murray, he played center and linebacker at the University of Utah, graduating in 1964. As head coach at Skyline High, he won five state titles from 1968-79. In 1980 and 1981 he coached at Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho, winning the conference championship both seasons.
- Richard Evans