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I had just returned to Niagara Falls from Alumni Arena and my gameday setup in Buffalo when the news broke: Robert Anae was stepping down as BYU Football's offensive coordinator, the first move in an offseason shake-up of the offensive coaching staff.
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The official BYU press release reads:
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PROVO, Utah (Dec. 30, 2010) — BYU offensive coordinator Robert Anae today announced he has resigned his position on the BYU football staff and will pursue other opportunities.
"I have decided to resign at BYU and look forward to taking on the next chapter in my life and career," Anae said. "I want to express my gratitude to this university and to Coach Mendenhall for the opportunity I have had to coach at my alma mater and all we were able to accomplish over the past six seasons."
Anae has served as offensive coordinator and inside receivers coach on the Cougar coaching staff since coming to BYU from Texas Tech in 2005.
"I have tremendous respect for Robert Anae," BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "Robert is extremely loyal and trustworthy and a man of principle, faith and character. I appreciate all he has done for our program and for me personally the past six years. I consider him a dear friend."
As BYU's inside receivers coach, Anae helped a Cougar tight end earn All-Mountain West Conference honors six times, including five first-team awards. BYU tight ends also achieved national accolades under Anae's tutelage as Jonny Harline received first-team All-America honors in 2006 and Dennis Pitta was named an NCAA Consensus All-American in 2009.
During Anae's tenure as offensive coordinator, BYU earned top-25 NCAA statistical rankings in different offensive categories on 28 occasions, including 13 times in the top 10. The Cougars have ranked in the top 25 in third-down efficiency each of Anae's six seasons, including a No. 1 rating in 2009 and No. 2 rankings in 2008 and 2006. BYU achieved a top-6 passing offense three times (2005, 2006, 2008) in the past six seasons.
A 17-year coaching veteran at five different schools, Anae has been part of many of BYU's most successful teams as both a player and a coach. An offensive lineman, he was a member of BYU's National Championship team in 1984 and part of four bowl teams from 1981-84 while earning second-team All-Western Athletic Conference honors. During the past six years as a coach at BYU, the Cougars have earned six bowl invitations with four bowl victories while winning two outright MWC championships and achieving an overall record of 56-21 (.727).
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Anae led BYU's offense to consistent finishes among the top attacks in the country, until the 2010 season saw BYU slump to 73rd in total offense and 70th in scoring, even as the team had a solid showing in the final six games of the season under freshman QB Jake Heaps.
Anae's departure seemingly opens the door for QBs coach Brandon Doman to assume coordinator responsibilities after six seasons working alongside Anae. His lack of previous experience as a coordinator should not hamper him; Anae assumed his post after serving as OL coach at Texas Tech.
Doman has been lauded by head coach Bronco Mendenhall for his work with BYU's signal-callers, and Mendenhall has cited Doman as the coach best able to relate to and work with Heaps. Heaps himself has continually spoken in glowing terms about Doman, while rarely if ever mentioning Anae.
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This excerpt was from "BYU Football with Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall" on KSL Radio's November 16th broadcast:
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Heaps and Mendenhall talked about the role of QB Coach Brandon Doman in Heaps' development, with the quarterback saying "I love Coach Doman to death. He's my guy. He has developed me into what I'm doing right now. I can't say enough good things about that guy; it's kind of like we were made for each other. He's a tremendous guy and a tremendous coach; I really rely heavily on him. He still pushes me harder and harder. It's almost as if when I'm doing better, he's going to be pushing me even more."
Mendenhall says "Coach Doman, is really, in my opinion, the one that is responsible. Coach Doman is not only so helpful in helping Jake develop and reach his potential--which is going to be amazing when that happens--but his relationship that Jake has with Coach Doman is one that will surpass any I could ever have with any of our players."
"It's not possible to have that relationship without being a position coach, and Jake is so fortunate to have not only someone that played the position here, but loves BYU so much and does just such a fantastic job of ambassadorship for the program and the church. Jake is being mentored by the absolute best person he could be."
"My job simply is: if Jake knows that I care about him, then mission accomplished. A lot of our players don't, sometimes, but I do, and I'll hold them to very high standards. Jake just happens to be reaching those at probably an earlier level than most of our players do, which is fun to see."
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