Bronco’s On Board: Mendenhall Tabbed as Aggies’ 31st Football Coach
By Jeff Hunter ’96
The distance between Alpine and Logan is just 112 miles, and the drive can easily be made in less than two hours depending on traffic. Needless to say, Bronco Mendenhall definitely took the scenic route to becoming the 31st coach in the history of the Utah State football program.
The 58-year-old Utah Valley native was hired by USU athletic director Diana Sabau on Dec. 6, completing a gridiron journey that began as a player at American Fork High School and culminated in successful head coaching stops at Brigham Young, Virginia and New Mexico.
“My wife Holly and I are thrilled to be back in the state again,” Mendenhall proclaimed at his introductory press conference on Dec. 9, at the West Stadium Center at Maverik Stadium.
Mendenhall’s 93-year-old mother, Lenore, still lives in Alpine, while his three sons — Cutter, Breaker, and Raeder — are currently attending school at BYU. So, the Mendenhalls are coming home to more than just the Beehive State.
“The first guiding principle of our program is family first, last, and always. This decision, in addition to this amazing institution, aligns with our first principle of family first, last, and always. And who in the world gets to lead an amazing football program into a brand-new era with such a rich tradition?”
Mendenhall, who played for and received his first coaching job from former USU athletic director Dave Kragthorpe at Oregon State, is best known as the head coach at BYU from 2005-15. But after winning 99 games and going to 11 bowl games in 11 seasons with the Cougars, Mendenhall moved on to Virginia, where he guided the Cavaliers to 36 victories in six years.
But following the 2021 season, Mendenhall abruptly left college athletics, turning his focus towards building a ranch in Montana, near where Holly grew up in Missoula.
“Putting in 40 acres of fencing on a ranch was therapeutic, but also enlightening,” Mendenhall says. “After the first season ended, calls were still coming in, and we had opportunities, but none of them seemed like the right one. After season two, we both started to have a yearning for influence and impact on young people. It just became clear that’s our purpose, and I don’t think there’s a more impactful and influential platform than college athletics.”
That led to Mendenhall returning to the sidelines in 2024 as the head coach at New Mexico, one of the six different places he served as an assistant coach. The Lobos, who were picked to finish 11th in the preseason poll ended up in a tie for fifth, winning five games, including an upset of No. 18 Washington State.
New Mexico also pulled off a wild, 50-45 win in Logan by scoring 21 points in the fourth quarter. While it was a tough loss for the Aggies and interim head coach Nate Dreiling, it was an emotional victory for Mendenhall, who admitted to shedding some tears after the game.
“We love influence and impact. We love heart. We love challenge. And we love change, not only in people, but in institutions,” Mendenhall explains. “It was just a moment to acknowledge of a lot of young people trying really hard and having a chance to see some success.”
Sabau clearly took notice of the passion Mendenhall displayed that day — as well as his impressive résumé — and hopes the veteran coach can re-invigorate a football program that failed to play in a bowl game for the first time since 2020.
“We needed someone at Utah State for our football program who would elevate our competitive excellence, who would prioritize our academic success, and who would engage as good stewards in our community,” Sabau says. “Bronco Mendenhall emerged as that leader. Bronco Mendenhall has a tremendous experience rebuilding programs and cultures.
“… He embraces USU values of respect, integrity, dedication, continuous improvement and teamwork. His passion for coaching empowers students to become the best version of themselves, and he respects the rich traditions of this university. Bronco Mendenhall is exactly the teacher, the leader, and the head coach that our young men need right now at Utah State University.”
