PROVO — It took BYU running backs coach Reno Mahe 40 seconds into an interview with the local media Monday at the BYU football offices to crack a joke about his program’s first-year coaching staff.

Considering all that he has been through in the past three weeks, seeing him laugh was heartwarming.

Mahe’s 3-year-old daughter Elsie was buried in a private family funeral Saturday, a day after a public memorial at the Salt Palace that attracted thousands of well-wishers for his wife Sunny and the family after their youngest died from injuries sustained in an accident Nov. 22 in the family’s Utah County home.

“I think any time you have a situation like this, it brings people closer. For the most part, we’ve had a close group here, and any closer would just be weird,” said the former BYU and NFL running back, clearly making a joke and smiling in his usual high spirits. “We’re a close group, and everyone has each other’s backs.”

The hardest part, perhaps, has been the comfort and consolation the Mahes have needed to offer friends, neighbors and Reno’s own players. BYU star Jamaal Williams was in tears when he presented the game ball to Reno and Sunny following the team’s 28-10 win over Utah State on Nov. 26, and Sunny found herself telling BYU’s all-time leading rusher that everything would be OK.

“I think it definitely touched another part of the players’ souls, and they’ve been awesome,” said Reno, whose running backs brought Sunny’s weekly “Cookie Wednesday” tradition to Primary Children’s Hospital the day after the accident. “The support has been great, the staff has been great, and even the fans have been very good about it.”

Through it all, the family’s LDS faith has buoyed them.

“So many pieces played into the situation, and there could be a lot of coincidences. But I don’t believe in coincidences,” Reno said.

“The Lord has a plan for all of us, and I think this was just part of his plan.”

Even if it might make things weird, the players and coaches found themselves coming together in support of the Mahes during such an extreme trial.

“With Reno’s family, our heart goes out to them and we pray for them. It’s very hard to see them go through this,” wide receiver Mitchell Juergens said. “But at the same time, it’s been eye-opening to see how well their perspective on this has been. “They are very positive people, and they understand the Lord’s will. It brings us comfort to know that he’s OK.”

Every parent fears what the Mahes have been going through for the past month; no one wants to lose a child, yet alone one with the youth, vivacity and spunk of little Elsie.

But coming to work every day in the BYU football offices has offered Reno a chance at normalcy, which is something he desperately needed while his daughter fought in a hospital bed at Primary Children’s Hospital and her mother and siblings were constantly by her side.

“Any time that I’ve come, it was me needing a break — needing some normalcy,” Reno said. “With the Polynesian culture, there were 100 people at the house, and it was nice to get away from it a little bit.

“But everything I need to do, (BYU coach Kalani Sitake) has been great about it.”

Even rival coaches at the University of Utah have been on hand to offer support to the Mahes, lifting Reno with daily visits to the hospital while Elsie battled for her life.

It’s brought a much-needed civility to what has been a hostile rivalry at times, as friends and former teammates rallied around BYU’s one-time standout running back and returner.

“I played with those guys,” Reno said. “Morgan Scalley and I grew up together and graduated the same year. Justin Ena, A-Rod (Aaron Roderick); I played with them.

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Hundreds of people stopped by the Salt Palace Friday night in an overwhelming show of support for BYU assistant football coach Reno Mahe and his family at a memorial for his 3-year-old daughter.

“Having been in the hospital at the same time as (former Utah football player Steve) Tate and his son (Hayes Tates), I got to talk to them a lot in the lobby. It was a cool experience,” Reno said. “Whether it’s something that brings the fan bases closer together, great. But outside of that, you become part of that football fraternity and regardless of where you are at, you are always there for each other. I really appreciated them.”

Reno said discussions have been had about the two schools planning a tribute to Elsie and Hayes Tate the next time they meet on the gridiron, though he isn’t privy to the full conversations. The Cougars will organize a tribute for Elsie during the team’s Dec. 21 bowl game against Wyoming in San Diego, and on the sideline, Reno will wear his pink shoes — his daughter’s favorite color.

But the biggest tribute to Elsie will be the one he offers away from the football field.

“As a dad, I’m just trying to live a good life and honor her in that way,” Reno said. “I’ve got a bunch of other rugrats running around my house, and I hug them a little more — spend a little more time with them.”

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