Bronco Mendenhall denies Colorado coaching rumors


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SALT LAKE CITY — Earlier this week, BYU football head coach Bronco Mendenhall was rumored to be on the short list for the Colorado head coach position following the firing of Jon Embree.

Shortly after the rumored position on Colorado's short list, several rumors spread that Mendenhall had, in fact, interviewed for the job and appeared to be a foregone conclusion that Mendenhall's days were numbered with the Cougars.

The rumors made some sense to some — more money, leverage, a greater challenge or a new "rivalry" with opposing Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham. However, throughout the whole process, somebody forgot to tell the coach he was leaving.

Kirk Kenney, writing for the Deseret News, spoke with Mendenhall during Wednesday's press conference for the Poinsettia Bowl, and Mendenhall denied the coaching rumors, saying the job offer was news to him.

"I was asked by a recruit just (Tuesday) night," Mendenhall said. "I have been the (BYU) coach for eight years. We (he and his wife) are yet to look at a newspaper article. I don't ever watch the sports news. I don't listen to any radio talk shows. So our neighbors started calling us. I guess I was rumored to be going somewhere. That was news to us."


I didn't express any interest, haven't been contacted, didn't interview and didn't know I was a candidate. Other than that, I guess I'm a finalist, from what I've been told.

–Bronco Mendenhall


Mendenhall said it was a "compliment" to be considered as a potential candidate for the job but that he had never expressed interest in a change of venue.

"I didn't express any interest, haven't been contacted, didn't interview and didn't know I was a candidate," he said. "Other than that, I guess I'm a finalist, from what I've been told."

To put the situation to rest, Mendenhall said he feels like BYU is where he's supposed to be currently.

While the future may be a coaching position elsewhere, Mendenhall has not expressed any interest to leave BYU.

"I go more now on what I believe I'm supposed to be and what I'm supposed to be doing than anything else. It's less materialistic. It's less self-interested with every turn. It's more principled."

Mendenhall is currently in his eighth season with BYU and has led the Cougars to eight consecutive bowl games, with a 5-2 postseason record. As head coach, Mendenhall is 73-29.

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