PROVO — Bronco Mendenhall convinced BYU administrators four days ago that he was BYU's answer man, and Monday the university made him the head football coach with a charge to bring the program back to a winning force in the Rockies on the gridiron and off the police blotter.
"It was a difficult but important process for us," senior associate athletic director Tom Holmoe said after introducing Mendenhall as the top Cougar during a press conference Monday afternoon.
BYU's choice had centered on two current coaches, Mendenhall and Lance Reynolds.
Reynolds could be described as a Sir Lancelot, a man of many virtues.
Mendenhall is best described as a Samurai warrior who wields a big shiny sword.
The hire ended six days of intense pressure talks with recently hired Utah coach Kyle Whittingham and then Mendenhall and 22-year veteran assistant head coach Reynolds. At one point last week, Reynolds moved ahead of Mendenhall in the in-house race to replace Gary Crowton.
Over the weekend things changed.
Holmoe said no major event turned it around for Mendenhall.
Mendenhall said he'd had "offers" but refused to elaborate on what he believed became the turning point in the hire. "I just wore them down," he said. "That's what I do."
"It became obvious to us that Mendenhall would be our next head coach when we finished talking to him last Friday," Holmoe said. "That is not to take away from what we saw in our other candidate, coach Lance Reynolds, a loyal long-time employee who is a valuable member of our coaching staff for years."
Reynolds, overlooked once more in a major promotion to coach BYU, said Mendenhall and he were fine. "He has been absolutely fantastic with me. It is the same with President Cecil Samuelson and athletic director Tom Holmoe. I'm disappointed but not bitter. I totally understand what transpired and where they are coming from."
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Samuelson, who was involved in his first major sports hire on Monday, said he is impressed with the 38-year-old Mendenhall. "His motivational skill and emphasis on discipline and character will enhance our program. He has earned the respect of his players, his fellow coaches and the university administration."
The hire puts a period on the Crowton era that had an open ending when the coach resigned 11 days ago. BYU now looks to put behind it three consecutive losing seasons, the latest a 5-6 effort that ended with a loss to rival Utah in Rice-Eccles Stadium Nov. 20.
Evident in BYU's promotion of Mendenhall is a game plan to clean up off-field failures that dominated headlines the past year.
Mendenhall, known as a disciplinarian and no-nonsense coach with players, is that man, according to school officials. Mendenhall said he will instigate a critical scrutiny of all football prospects and players and be sure they fit in.
"Great young men who fit in at other schools may not fit in at BYU with what is expected," Mendenhall said.
BYU's new coach said he expected BYU to be dominant in the Mountain West Conference and introduced Texas Tech offensive line coach Robert Anae as BYU's new offensive coordinator. Anae's Red Raiders led the NCAA in passing last season and are headed to the Holiday Bowl after averaging 35.4 points a game.
Mendenhall, who will remain BYU's defensive coordinator, said he expects BYU's offense will be high energy, fast-tempo and productive in putting points on the board.
Holmoe said he is aware many Cougar fans have become concerned over the length of time it has taken BYU to hire a coach since the season ended.
"That is the passion of fans, and I understand that totally. But I think there were 18 coaching vacancies at the end of the season and as of today, I believe only nine of those have been filled. It takes time, and there is a process and you have to do it right. I hope fans will understand."
There is a lot on Mendenhall's agenda, including recruiting and evaluating the remainder of his staff.
For Reynolds, there is talk that Whittingham has contacted him about employment and this decision may have changed the recruiting of his son, Timpview All-American lineman Matt Reynolds, and the sentiment of another athlete son on a mission, Dallas, and current starting center Lance Reynolds Jr.
E-mail: dharmon@desnews.com