Robert Anae is officially back as BYU Football's offensive coordinator; the news was announced by head coach Bronco Mendenhall on Friday afternoon in a school press release.

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"I am excited to announce Robert Anae as BYU's offensive coordinator," Mendenhall said. "During his career Robert has been involved with some of the best offensive schemes in college football, and he has a proven record of coaching elite-level offensive production. He is also a man of great intelligence, personal integrity, complete honesty and total loyalty. Robert is the ideal person to oversee our offense, and I'm thrilled he will be returning to BYU."

The school said Anae will fill the "vacant spot on Mendenhall's staff" created by the post-Poinsettia Bowl retirement of 30-year assistant coach Lance Reynolds. Anae replaces Brandon Doman, who has occupied the OC post for the last two seasons. The announcement states that "one of Anae's first duties will be to work with Mendenhall to make coaching evaluations and any related offensive staff position assignments."

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"I'd like to thank Greg Burns, Rich Rodriguez and the Arizona staff and players for an outstanding year in 2012. It was my privilege to be part of the Arizona program the past two years and to have coached the players I worked with in Tucson," Anae said. "I'd like to thank Tom Holmoe, Bronco Mendenhall and the BYU administration for the opportunity to return to BYU. My family and I look forward to an outstanding experience in a very familiar place."

"I look forward to working with the young men on our team to represent the BYU brand of football that has characterized our program for decades. I look forward to developing the players on the offensive side of the football at a high level both on and off the field."

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Anae returns to BYU after working as the offensive coordinator and inside receivers coach under Mendenhall in the 2005 through 2010 seasons. He left the Cougar program in December 2010 to join the staff at Arizona as the Wildcats' offensive line coach and run game coordinator. He was retained by head coach Rich Rodriguez after Mike Stoops was released from the same post following the 2011 season. Under Anae's tutelage, Arizona had the 17th-ranked rush offense during the past season; the UA offense ranked in the top 16 in both years with Anae on the staff, and ranked as a top 25 passing team in both 2011 and 2012.

In his six seasons at BYU, Anae oversaw a perennially productive attack that finished the FBS top 25 in 10 different offensive categories a total of 35 times. Under Anae, BYU's third-down conversion percentage was never lower than 21st nationally, and ranked 1st overall in 2009.

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