Reynolds opts to stay with BYU

PROVO — Veteran BYU assistant coach Lance Reynolds will stay Cougar blue.

Late Friday, Reynolds agreed to an enhanced contract with increased responsibilities in BYU's football program after the university elevated defensive coordinator Bronco Mendenhall to head coach on Monday. Both Mendenhall and Reynolds were in-house candidates to replace Gary Crowton, who resigned earlier this month.

Reynolds will be BYU's No. 2 man behind Mendenhall with the title of assistant head coach. In addition to his duties on the field, he will be given an expanded administrative role in the program.

"Bronco wants to establish a firm direction in where we're going, and I'll do everything in my power to make him and the rest of the coaches and players successful," Reynolds said.

"I honor and respect the traditions of BYU. I have a great love for the players, both past and present. I'm looking forward to working with coach Mendenhall and his staff as we work together to mold the future of this program. I have a huge respect for the traditions of our program. My roots run deep — very, very deep — for the BYU football program."

With the departure of Robbie Bosco to fund-raising in 2003, Reynolds' 22 years as a BYU assistant represents the last professional link to the LaVell Edwards era. The Hall-of-Fame coach retired in 2000.

Reynolds made a phone call to Utah coach Kyle Whittingham late Friday afternoon, informing the new Ute coach of his decision to remain with BYU's program. Whittingham had discussed a Reynolds' post in his new regime this week.

Sunday night, after BYU told staffers Reynolds would not be elevated to head coach at BYU, Utah's newest recruiters, Kalani Sitake and Aaron Roderick, were in the Reynolds home making a pitch to Timpview all-American lineman Matt Reynolds, considered the top high school football player in the state.

"The only thing is," Reynolds said, "When Kyle contacted me, obviously I looked at it as a direction for me and the boys to be together. My family is from Salt Lake City, and this would have been an easy move instead of taking a job and going a long ways away."

Reynolds believes Mendenhall is poised to take BYU to where it needs to be.

"I think we will be in a position to strike for the conference championship," Reynolds said. "We do have a good team returning and players who will make us into what we need and should be.