As it turns out, BYU’s first-time head coach is indeed going to roll the dice by adding a complete novice, at least collegiately, to his initial coaching staff.
Following up on speculation that’s been growing stronger for days, BYU confirmed Christmas Eve night that Ty Detmer has been hired by Kalani Sitake as his offensive coordinator. Detmer was a Hall of Fame quarterback for the Cougars from 1987-91, winning the football program’s first and only Heisman Trophy in 1990. His credentials as a collegiate player are impeccable; his credentials as a coach at the collegiate level are non-existent.
The 48-year-old Detmer, widely regarded as one of the smartest players to play the position during what was a 14-year NFL career, has never coached at the collegiate level, major college or otherwise. In fact, his only coaching experience, period, is as the head coach at a private high school in Austin, Texas, the past six years.
“My family and I are extremely excited to be part of the football program at BYU again,” Detmer said. “I feel it is the right time to make a move and jump in head first. I couldn’t be more excited.”
In addition to Detmer, Sitake will also have a first-time coordinator on the other side of the ball in Ilaisa Tuiaki. The hiring of a first-timer like Tuiaki, however, is somewhat mitigated by the fact that Sitake came to BYU after serving as the defensive coordinator at Oregon State.
“I am excited to be back home,” Tuiaki, who grew up in Provo, said in a statement confirming his hiring. “I’ve always been a fan and tied to the BYU program growing up just down the street from the stadium. I’m grateful to the Oregon State family and for Coach Andersen and everything he’s done for my career. I am really looking forward to this new opportunity to work with Kalani and help the great young men at BYU reach their goals.”
