Ricks college football may be dead. But it keeps giving.
Will BYU try to tap Ricks College once again to fill out its staff for new coach Bronco Mendenhall? Why not? The Cougars, Utah and Weber State have already done that this month.
Former Ricks College head coach Ron Haun, the offensive genius for the Vikings for two decades, confirmed he got a call from BYU offensive coordinator Robert Anae, who was once his offensive line coach in Rexburg. Anae called to measure Haun's interest in returning to the sidelines.
"I told him I'd be very interested," Haun said.
At age 60, the football fire has not been extinguished for Haun, although the LDS Church pulled the plug on Ricks College football after the 2001 season and he's been teaching at the BYU-Idaho campus ever since.
Ricks football "has a heck of a legacy" in Haun's book. Not only was it a feeder school for BYU with ready-made players accustomed to the honor code, but Ricks and Nebraska were the only college programs to average nine wins a season from 1981 to 2001.
Haun won 84 percent of his games at Ricks College (180-42), which pumped out an average of 16 Division I players a year in the '90s, a time when at least 15 NFL rosters listed Ricks alumni. Today, Ricks has three players in the NFL, including Ed Mulitalo (Baltimore Ravens), David Dixon (Minnesota Vikings) and Anton Palepoi (Denver Broncos).
If you look at the college coaching ranks in Utah, the Ricks pedigree/connection is astounding.
Weber State just hired former BYU defensive coordinator Ken Schmidt as offensive line coach. Schmidt was head coach at Ricks from 1980-81 before Haun.
At Utah, Kyle Whittingham just named three Ricks players to staff positions. These include Gary Andersen as defensive coordinator and Jay Hill and Aaron Roderick as
assistant coaches.
At BYU, the Cougars have former Ricks O-line coach Lance Reynolds as assistant head coach, Anae as offensive coordinator and have had conversations with former Ricks player Ben Cahoon and coach Ed Larson.
At Southern Utah, the head coach, Wes Meier, was a defensive lineman for Haun, and his defensive line coach, Cole Wilson, played defensive back at Ricks.
Down at Snow College, the head coach, Jeff Kilts, was an offensive line coach at Ricks, and his defensive coordinator, Steve Coburn, played as a Vikings' defensive linemen.
At South Dakota State, the offensive coordinator is former Ricks all-America quarterback Darren Wilkinsen, who signed to play at Colorado State.
Chris Wise, a former Ricks player, coached Bear River to the state championship this past November.
"We have a good representation," Haun said.
The fact a football gold mine got turned off up north in spud country is still a sore spot in the Rexburg community. Haun is tired of the argument and battle and just says "been down that street" when the topic surfaces.
"It was a heck of a legacy," Haun says. And BYU's current struggles may be tied to the end of this watering hole for Cougar recruiting the past four seasons.
"There is no question we provided BYU with many players who could step right in and were ready not only physically but emotionally on and off the field. But we did that with many schools across the country and our players excelled at many programs. But I think we sent BYU more players than any other junior college.
"I think it's hurt them because when they (BYU) had a need, we were able to plug in the gap with players. Ricks guys could step up and play right away and were more prepared to live the honor code than even LDS athletes from other junior colleges because they understood and lived it here."
Ricks College football. Dead, but as alive as ever.
And Haun? What's his deal?
Football folks will tell you Haun is brilliant, an offensive guru who's sometimes grouchy. He's exceptionally knowledgable and fiercely loyal.
"I'm very passionate about football, more than I've ever been about the game. It means more to me than ever now because once you've been in it and then had it taken away, you realize just how important it really is."
Would he like to coach at BYU?
He's only a phone call away.
E-mail: dharmon@desnews.com