Y. hands ball to Bronco

PROVO — BYU's new football coach — picked to lead the Cougars out of the spiral of three consecutive losing seasons — is defensive coordinator Bronco Mendenhall, multiple sources have told the Deseret Morning News.

After a weekend during which university administrators conducted final interviews with Mendenhall and assistant head coach Lance Reynolds, sources say Mendenhall will be named the Cougar head coach. Late Sunday, BYU confirmed there will be a 4 p.m. press conference today.

BYU officials were otherwise unavailable by phone Sunday night. However, other sources verified the hire on Sunday.

Mendenhall reportedly presented school officials with an outstanding interview, and his enthusiasm for the game, energy and plans for a new direction for the program turned the job hunt in his favor during the past 70 hours. It also helped, according to sources, that several big-money contributors approached BYU officials and threw their support behind the popular coach, reportedly making a pitch with money as well as theory and reasoning centered on public perception.

"BYU decided Bronco is the face they want on Cougar football in years to come," said one school employee.

Courted by both BYU and the University of Utah, Kyle Whittingham last Tuesday opted to become head coach at the U., where he has been the defensive coordinator. In the wake of that rejection, and besides talking with Reynolds, BYU made a firm offer to Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid and contacted University of Southern California coach Norm Chow but did not tender him an offer.

BYU had reportedly prepared to go with Reynolds last week after Whittingham turned down the Cougars. There were plans for a presentation centered on testimonials from NFL personalities selling Reynolds at a press conference, intended for Friday or Saturday. But after interviews with Mendenhall on Friday and Reynolds on Saturday at the home of BYU President Cecil Samuelson, the search committee decided Mendenhall was their man, sources said.

Mendenhall, according to BYU players, has a personality, coaching style and discipline that many athletes crave and others fear.

"It's like a fear factor. He pushes players and demands mental fortitude out of them on every play," one player said Sunday.

Mendenhall will get the job over Reynolds, a 22-year veteran assistant head coach who had garnered support from former BYU players and coaches who had thrived under Hall of Fame coach LaVell Edwards. These included Reid, former player Chad Lewis and USC's Chow.