Bronco Mendenhall realized that the timing was right in December to break away from BYU, a program he had captained for 11 seasons, and take over as head football coach at Virginia.
“There was a significant change toward the end of last season. It was pretty clear — no, that’s an understatement. It was crystal clear that I had done what I was capable of and supposed to do at BYU with the time I was there," Mendenhall told USA Today's Paul Myerberg in a story released Monday.
A motivating factor that helped Mendenhall move away from BYU was its independent status, he told Myerberg.
“I don’t think it’s sustainable,” he said. “I was trying everything I knew how to do to advance and pioneer that part. If I were to be really blunt about it, I took it as far as I could go in relation to that setting of independence."
Myerberg explained that for Mendenhall, it was time for a new challenge, and Virginia provided the setting to rebuild a program like he did when Mendenhall took over for Gary Crowton at BYU in 2005. The Cougars had endured three straight losing seasons and Honor Code issues had scarred the program when he took over at the Provo school.
Now, he takes over a Virginia program that went 27-46 under former coach Mike London, including four straight losing seasons.
Mendenhall's Cavalier program will open spring camp on March 22.
Read Myerberg's full story on Mendenhall here.
Email: bjudd@deseretdigital.com; Twitter: @brandonljudd