Virginia hires BYU's Bronco Mendenhall as new football coach

USA TODAY Sports

Virginia has hired Brigham Young's Bronco Mendenhall as its new football coach, the school announced Friday.

Mendenhall, 49, who replaces Mike London, was 99-42 in his 11 seasons as head coach at BYU to rank 12th in total wins among all FBS teams during that time. Mendenhall led the Cougars to two Mountain West championships (2006, '07) and 10 bowl games (6-4). He was the 2006 MWC coach of the year.

He will be introduced at a news conference Monday at 10 a.m. ET.

“Bronco Mendenhall’s teams have consistently won at a high level and he’s demonstrated the ability to create a strategic vision to build a program and then implement his plan to be successful,” Cavaliers athletics director Craig Littlepage said in a statement. “His emphasis on the overall development of student athletes and a commitment to academic achievement is in line with our goals of Uncompromised Excellence. We’re excited to begin a new era of Virginia football and support Bronco and his staff.”

The Cavaliers have struggled recently, finishing 4-8 (3-5 in the ACC) this season. They were 27-46 during London's six years at the helm.

“Professionally and personally I seek to embrace the highest standards in college sports, on and off the field, and I love the high standards both academically and athletically at Virginia," Mendenhall said in a statement. "I am excited to not only help provide the continual growth and development of the student athletes academically but also reestablish Virginia as a consistent winner with a fiercely competitive and winning product on the football field.

“BYU has played the pivotal role in my professional and personal life and I will be forever indebted to the outstanding young men and exceptional people I have had the opportunity to work with at BYU. My success at BYU was possible because these great people chose the phenomenal, unique and faith-based experience available at BYU.”

There is an initial five-year agreement that will pay Mendenhall annual compensation starting at $3.25 million, which will come from the athletics department (which does not receive state funding).

Mendenhall will coach the Cougars (9-3) in Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl.

BYU athletics director Tom Holmoe said the school will begin a national search immediately.

"I am extremely grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to work with Bronco as our head football coach," Holmoe said in a statement. "He has worked tirelessly on behalf of our student-athletes to give them the best possible collegiate experience, on and off the field. Bronco has been loyal through and through to BYU. I’m grateful for everything he’s done for the football program.

"He has a strong desire to complete this season and will coach our team at the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl. We wish Bronco, Holly and their family the very best as they move on to this new opportunity."

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