BYU football: Cougars announce hiring of new assistant coaches

BYU football’s new offensive coordinator is still with the LSU Tigers. But, he’s been hard at work assembling a new staff for the Cougars.

BYU football’s Christmas present of Jeff Grimes arrived early. The next round of presents came just after the big day, but are significant and exciting hires nonetheless.

Aaron Roderick, Fesi Sitake and Ryan Pugh have all joined the BYU football staff – and it was announced Steve Clark will remain with the Cougars as tight ends coach.

Roderick joins the Cougars as the passing game coordinator. Kalani Sitake worked with Roderick for over a decade at the University of Utah and had Roderick working as a special consultant for BYU last season.

Roderick has nearly 20 years of coaching experience under his belt, including a stint as offensive coordinator with the Utes.

Fesi Sitake has spent the last four seasons with the Weber State Wildcats, spending two years as the passing game coordinator and two as the offensive coordinator.

In a BYU football press release, Kalani referred to his cousin as “one of the game’s up-and-coming young coordinators.”

Fesi Sitake also has experience as a wide receivers coach.

Pugh is an interesting name. He was coached by Grimes at Auburn, where he was an All-American offensive lineman. After graduating, he worked with Grimes at Auburn, Virginia Tech and LSU. For the last two years, he was the o-line coach at UTSA.

This is stating the obvious, but these new hires confirm that Reno Mahe, Ben Cahoon and Ty Detmer are all on their way out. It’s clear that Grimes felt he had better coaches in mind.

BYU football will also hire another assistant in January, when the NCAA allows a tenth assistant. (So sometime after Jan. 9).

Position-specific responsibilities will be announced at a later date, but my guess is Sitake works with wide receivers and Roderick takes the quarterbacks. Pugh will take on the bulk of the o-line work.