Bronco Mendenhall - Former HC at UVA & BYU

[Liver]

wishful old buff fan: bronco would "only" get us to bowl games.

modern beaten down buff fan: sounds great.

we are a bi-polar group, even from day to day.

now, please excuse me, the other person in my head is asking for more coffee.

 

[BuffLuke80]

Not to keep picking at Bronco, but are we at all concerned about his coaching tree? On the one hand he’s had a remarkable amount of stability in his staff, but does he have varied enough coaching connections to find a great staff if his primary guys are unavailable? I tend to think there’s some value in new blood on a staff occasionally to bring in new ideas and freshen things up - particularly if coaches are getting promoted or hired as head coaches elsewhere, but Bronco seems to value familiarity and he doesn’t have a lot to point to when it comes to assistants moving on to bigger jobs.

Over a 17 year career as a head coach here are his coordinators:

OC:
Robert Anae (15 years) - currently OC at Syracuse
Brandon Doman (2 years) - never coached in college again

DC:
Nick Howell (9 years) - currently DC at Vandy
Jaime Hill (3 years) - HC in the Hungarian Football League
**Bronco served as his own DC for 5 seasons

So presumably if hired he goes back after Anae and Howell, but what if they aren’t available? Every one of those coordinators was LDS - does he have enough connections outside the LDS community to fill a quality staff? He was his own DC for 5 years!

Wtf? The Hungarian Football League? Wow, learn something new everyday.

 

[manhattanbuff]

wishful old buff fan: bronco would "only" get us to bowl games.

modern beaten down buff fan: sounds great.

we are a bi-polar group, even from day to day.

now, please excuse me, the other person in my head is asking for more coffee.

I think talent acquisition will make bowl eligibility difficult.

 

[patebuff]

I just don’t get it. Why are we so afraid of shooting for the stars?

I want a coach who can recruit his balls off and run a fun and exciting offense. Give me Herman or a coordinator that has a high ceiling.

We know what we are going to get with Mendenahall who is a good coach, but not great.

This would feel like a hire Rick would make to save himself until he retires. He doesn’t want to take a chance and that’s a loser mentality in my mind

 

[The Alabaster Yak]

Play callers sure, coordinators no. It’s one of the reasons I’m really hesitant on Walters and Riley - we’re hiring a HC, not a coordinator. Can they do the job of a head coach or are we overpaying for a really good coordinator?

This program needs a complete rebuild and a HC also servicing as a coordinator would seems to detract from all the other responsibilities of a HC.

Playcaller is the defacto Coordinator as the playcaller has to be intimately involved in gameplanning, schematics, personnel packages, etc. so I'm confused by the first part of your post.

As for the rest, that's just the debate about whether you want a CEO HC or a playcaller HC. Both have worked in both college and NFL, and I think you typically see a coordinator being elevated to HC and having his hands all over "his side" of the ball initially. Once the program is having success, there is more room for the HC to delegate that stuff and truly become the CEO.

As it pertains to CU, we just fired a guy who was supposed to be a CEO HC. A guy who didn't bring anything to the table when it came to offensive or defensive schematics and was supposed to just be coaching the coaches, leading the staff and players, developing, etc. Of course that doesn't mean that style can't work, but that's the risk you run with a CEO type. Not only does he have to be a great hire, but he also has to make two other great hires that fit within his philosophy.

 

[ahoelsken]

I think I'd rather roll the dice on a coordinator. While Mendenhall did take Virginia to bowl games three out of his six years there, they finished in the top 25 only once.

They were bowl eligible in 20-passed on playing a bowl because of COVID. They were invited to the Fenway Bowl last year and couldn't play because of COVID outbreak.

 

[leftybuff]

Playcaller is the defacto Coordinator as the playcaller has to be intimately involved in gameplanning, schematics, personnel packages, etc. so I'm confused by the first part of your post.

As for the rest, that's just the debate about whether you want a CEO HC or a playcaller HC. Both have worked in both college and NFL, and I think you typically see a coordinator being elevated to HC and having his hands all over "his side" of the ball initially. Once the program is having success, there is more room for the HC to delegate that stuff and truly become the CEO.

As it pertains to CU, we just fired a guy who was supposed to be a CEO HC. A guy who didn't bring anything to the table when it came to offensive or defensive schematics and was supposed to just be coaching the coaches, leading the staff and players, developing, etc. Of course that doesn't mean that style can't work, but that's the risk you run with a CEO type. Not only does he have to be a great hire, but he also has to make two other great hires that fit within his philosophy.

HCKD was a Weekend at Bernie's type CEO.

 

[SINKRATZ]

Wtf? The Hungarian Football League? Wow, learn something new everyday.

Fun fact - before coaching in the Hungarian Football League, Hill was the head coach of the Sao Paolo Storm in the Brazilian Football League and before that was he was a DC for the, are you ready for this…Simon Fraser University Clansmen (no joke).

 

[leftybuff]

This would feel like a hire Rick would make to save himself until he retires. He doesn’t want to take a chance and that’s a loser mentality in my mind

Vanilla? Yeah, that's it, everyone likes Vanilla.

 

[SINKRATZ]

Playcaller is the defacto Coordinator as the playcaller has to be intimately involved in gameplanning, schematics, personnel packages, etc. so I'm confused by the first part of your post.

As for the rest, that's just the debate about whether you want a CEO HC or a playcaller HC. Both have worked in both college and NFL, and I think you typically see a coordinator being elevated to HC and having his hands all over "his side" of the ball initially. Once the program is having success, there is more room for the HC to delegate that stuff and truly become the CEO.

As it pertains to CU, we just fired a guy who was supposed to be a CEO HC. A guy who didn't bring anything to the table when it came to offensive or defensive schematics and was supposed to just be coaching the coaches, leading the staff and players, developing, etc. Of course that doesn't mean that style can't work, but that's the risk you run with a CEO type. Not only does he have to be a great hire, but he also has to make two other great hires that fit within his philosophy.

Which is why, to me, a guy who has been successful with different coaches around him is encouraging to me. Bronco without Anae for example is a huge unknown and Anae is 63. And Mike Leach aside I just can’t get comfortable with the idea that not hiring a coordinator is a smart move for a program with such a hurculean rebuild ahead of it.

 

[BuffLuke80]

Fun fact - before coaching in the Hungarian Football League, Hill was the head coach of the Sao Paolo Storm in the Brazilian Football League and before that was he was a DC for the, are you ready for this…Simon Fraser University Clansmen (no joke).

Jesus Christ, not much surprises me these days. I guess that doesn't either. It isn't klansman, but still.

 

[Agent Dave Kujan]

I think y’all are really naive about the unique talent opportunities at BYU and UVA compared to Colorado.

I get the unique situation at BYU, but what is unique about UVA? Location? (Serious question)

 

[lawdogg]

Using Leach as an example is like saying stars don’t matter because Phil Lindsay turned into a player. He’s an exception to the rule and there’s a reason nearly every other coach in the country employs actual coordinators.

Bronco’s teams have performed well, but if for some reason he doesn’t get the whole band back together and Anae and Howell aren’t available, what then? I think it’s fair to question his ability to hire a staff when he’s relied on such a narrow group of coaches the bulk of his career and his guys don’t generally move up in the coaching world.

There are a lot of other more exciting/splashier names out there as well as a number of reasons to question if Mendenhall would be a good fit. The potential that he might coordinate the defense or struggle to put together a staff just don’t resonate with me as much. Most folks here would love a Grimes hire, for example. Well guess whose staff he was on earlier in his career at BYU. Now recruiting elite players, energizing the fan and donor base, navigating the world of NIL…those are some areas that might give me more pause.

 

[The Alabaster Yak]

Which is why, to me, a guy who has been successful with different coaches around him is encouraging to me. Bronco without Anae for example is a huge unknown and Anae is 63. And Mike Leach aside I just can’t get comfortable with the idea that not hiring a coordinator is a smart move for a program with such a hurculean rebuild ahead of it.

I'm not sure if nik meant it literally when he said Bronco would be the DC, but much like when Tucker came to CU, I fully expect there to be a DC in place, but Bronco would be very hands on with that side of the ball, initially. For example, would we want Vic So'oto as DC next year with Mendenhall handling playcalling and taking a large role in game planning, while So'oto ran a lot of the day to day? Then maybe year two, So'oto takes over playcalling and is more of a full time DC while BM shifts back to more of a CEO role?

Maybe the year off has changed BM's perspective and Colorado being a very unique and difficult job has made him think about approaching things differently than he has done in the past?

 

[Buffnik]

Using Leach as an example is like saying stars don’t matter because Phil Lindsay turned into a player. He’s an exception to the rule and there’s a reason nearly every other coach in the country employs actual coordinators.

Bronco’s teams have performed well, but if for some reason he doesn’t get the whole band back together and Anae and Howell aren’t available, what then? I think it’s fair to question his ability to hire a staff when he’s relied on such a narrow group of coaches the bulk of his career and his guys don’t generally move up in the coaching world.

I agree that staffing plan is a question every candidate better be able to knock out of the park in an interview.

 

[PAHIBuff]

I just don’t get it. Why are we so afraid of shooting for the stars?

I want a coach who can recruit his balls off and run a fun and exciting offense. Give me Herman or a coordinator that has a high ceiling.

We know what we are going to get with Mendenahall who is a good coach, but not great.

This would feel like a hire Rick would make to save himself until he retires. He doesn’t want to take a chance and that’s a loser mentality in my mind

I would guess that some outreach to other candidates took place before talking to Bronco.

 

[Liver]

I think talent acquisition will make bowl eligibility difficult.

yeah, that is probably the biggest q for sure. i am not sure what recruiting looks like for CU in the modern era. if tad can pull the guys he just pulled, it does give me some hope-- not apples to apples of course.

i guess what i would see as the plan is try to build a pretty deep group of guys with frames that you can build up over time on the ol and dl. get really tougher and deeper upfront and then rely on that to build a foundation. it isn't an instant turnaround probably because he isn't going to pull a bunch of guys from the portal. but, maybe strength, depth, and fundamentals over a few years will be enough to at least be ok again.

gotta get a qb out of the portal. for any coach coming in, that is priority 1. if we could pull a p5 level starting db too it would be great. everyone will be chasing starter ready linemen... and, we won't get a tier 1 qb probably but we still need to get an upgrade there.

 

[85alum]

Is there more smoke regarding Bronco or is just the active forum for the day? There sure are a lot of posts

 

[The Alabaster Yak]

Is there more smoke regarding Bronco or is just the active forum for the day? There sure are a lot of posts

 

[Hank]

They were bowl eligible in 20-passed on playing a bowl because of COVID. They were invited to the Fenway Bowl last year and couldn't play because of COVID outbreak.

Point still stands. One top 25 team (finished #25). Hovered around .500 in conference play. I understand those results here would be infinitely better than what we have been accustomed to. But it would be nice to be in the playoff hunt every now and then.

 

[manhattanbuff]

I get the unique situation at BYU, but what is unique about UVA? Location? (Serious question)

I think folks at CU don’t understand how deep the talent pool is here within a day’s drive of Virginia. PA, OH, WV, TN, NC, SC, NJ — don’t forget VA, MD, and DC.

The team’s recruit ranking is only part of the story. There are so many FBS level players in this area compared to the Rockies. Mid-level 3star players here are better than mid-level 3star players from Colorado.

 

[lawdogg]

I think folks at CU don’t understand how deep the talent pool is here within a day’s drive of Virginia. PA, OH, WV, TN, NC, SC, NJ — don’t forget VA, MD, and DC.

The team’s recruit ranking is only part of the story. There are so many FBS level players in this area compared to the Rockies. Mid-level 3star players here are better than mid-level 3star players from Colorado.

East coast bias, iyam.

 

[manhattanbuff]

East coast bias, iyam.

I can’t tell if you’re serious or not. I’m only presenting facts.

 

[lawdogg]

I can’t tell if you’re serious or not. I’m only presenting facts.

Couldn’t find the sarcasm font, so hoped the italics would do it…I was wrong.

 

[Agent Dave Kujan]

I think folks at CU don’t understand how deep the talent pool is here within a day’s drive of Virginia. PA, OH, WV, TN, NC, SC, NJ — don’t forget VA, MD, and DC.

The team’s recruit ranking is only part of the story. There are so many FBS level players in this area compared to the Rockies. Mid-level 3star players here are better than mid-level 3star players from Colorado.

100%

 

[buffaholic]

Using Leach as an example is like saying stars don’t matter because Phil Lindsay turned into a player. He’s an exception to the rule and there’s a reason nearly every other coach in the country employs actual coordinators.

Bronco’s teams have performed well, but if for some reason he doesn’t get the whole band back together and Anae and Howell aren’t available, what then? I think it’s fair to question his ability to hire a staff when he’s relied on such a narrow group of coaches the bulk of his career and his guys don’t generally move up in the coaching world.

I disagree.

I think all of the successful head coaches (all that I can think of) are the playcallers/designers of their side of the ball. Coordinators come and go but Nick Saban runs Nick Saban's offense. He doesn't manage every detail, but he's got enough returning IQ each year that he doesn't have to. And the same is true pretty much everywhere. Kyle runs Utah's D.

Expect Bronco (when he coaches again somewhere) to hire a seasoned OC and a younger DC who's been in the Bronco system before. He may or may not get the title to start with, which is just a title.

 

[SINKRATZ]

I disagree.

I think all of the successful head coaches (all that I can think of) are the playcallers/designers of their side of the ball. Coordinators come and go but Nick Saban runs Nick Saban's offense. He doesn't manage every detail, but he's got enough returning IQ each year that he doesn't have to. And the same is true pretty much everywhere. Kyle runs Utah's D.

Expect Bronco (when he coaches again somewhere) to hire a seasoned OC and a younger DC who's been in the Bronco system before. He may or may not get the title to start with, which is just a title.

Nick Saban hires extremely experienced coaches as his OC and Saban isn’t calling plays so I don’t see that analogy at all.

 

[buffaholic]

Nick Saban hires extremely experienced coaches as his OC and Saban isn’t calling plays so I don’t see that analogy at all.

Saban isn't in his first year at Alabama.
It's his system, no matter who the DC is. He doesn't have to spend high on D.
I believe Saban designs the defense, is tightly involved in the game plan and is not in the dark on play calling when it matters.

Of course, this gets back to "who is calling the plays" and frankly, I continue to believe that's the least important part of being a coordinator.

The main point is that a "CEO like head coach" doesn't work in CFB in most cases and will never work at CU.
I would not expect Bronco to spend a bunch of money on a fancy DC. Nor should he.

 

[Buffnik]

Saban isn't in his first year at Alabama.
It's his system, no matter who the DC is. He doesn't have to spend high on D.
I believe Saban designs the defense, is tightly involved in the game plan and is not in the dark on play calling when it matters.

Of course, this gets back to "who is calling the plays" and frankly, I continue to believe that's the least important part of being a coordinator.

The main point is that a "CEO like head coach" doesn't work in CFB in most cases and will never work at CU.
I would not expect Bronco to spend a bunch of money on a fancy DC. Nor should he.

Even at the NFL level, maybe more so. In NE, that always has been and always will be Belichick's defense. I'd bet that most NFL teams are set up like that with an offensive or defensive HC very heavily involved and being the de facto coordinator on one side of the ball. At CU, I think that's a big part of why MM and MT didn't prioritize their DC hires. Seems to have worked better than DH, JE and KD needing both (even though KD I guess thought his Vanderbilt OC performance meant he should direct our offense, often overruling Chev & Sanders).

 

[SINKRATZ]

Saban isn't in his first year at Alabama.
It's his system, no matter who the DC is. He doesn't have to spend high on D.
I believe Saban designs the defense, is tightly involved in the game plan and is not in the dark on play calling when it matters.

Of course, this gets back to "who is calling the plays" and frankly, I continue to believe that's the least important part of being a coordinator.

The main point is that a "CEO like head coach" doesn't work in CFB in most cases and will never work at CU.
I would not expect Bronco to spend a bunch of money on a fancy DC. Nor should he.

Saban isn’t his own DC no matter how he has the staff structured. He’s had multiple DCs go on to be head coaches including the reigning national champ.

And calling plays is the least important part of being a coordinator? Tell that to EB.