From 2005-2010 and then again from 2013-2021, Bronco Mendenhall and Robert Anae worked together, with Mendenhall as the head coach at BYU and Virginia and Anae as his offensive coordinator.
The duo is reuniting once again in those same roles.
On Saturday night, the Utah State football program announced that it has hired Anae to be its next offensive coordinator to replace Kevin McGiven after McGiven was hired by Utah earlier Saturday.
Anae, 67, re-enters college football after being out of it during the 2025 season. Prior to that he was the offensive coordinator at Syracuse and NC State when Mendenhall stepped away from the game for a few seasons.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Robert Anae as our offensive coordinator at Utah State,” Mendenhall said in a statement. “Robert and I share a long history together, and the success we’ve had side by side speaks for itself.
“His ability to develop quarterbacks is as good as anyone in college football. Robert understands how to build an offense that is smart, adaptable and player driven. He is the perfect fit for our program, our staff and the direction we are taking Aggie Football.”
From 2005-2010 Anae served as Mendenhall’s offensive coordinator at BYU until resigning. He returned in 2013 and stayed until 2015, when Mendenhall decided to leave the Cougars for Virginia and Anae followed.
The pair was together there until Mendenhall stepped away.
“The most amazing brand of offense I have been associated with was forged working with Bronco Mendenhall,” Anae said in a statement. “I’m blessed and excited to prove that our program has what it takes to win a conference championship”.
Anae has also made stops at Hawai’i, Boise State, UNLV, Texas Tech and Arizona at the FBS level during his career.