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SALT LAKE CITY -- It's been 20 years since Ty Detmer led the BYU Cougars to an upset of the No. 1 ranked and defending national champion Miami Hurricanes. These days the former Heisman Trophy winner is taking on a different challenge.
Detmer is the new head football coach at St. Andrews Episcopal School in Austin, Texas.
"You know, I always thought someday I probably will coach," Detmer said. "The more I started talking about it and seeing how I could put my print on things and help build the program up, the more excited I got about it. It felt right and I was excited about the opportunity."
Detmer follows in the footsteps of his father, Sonny -- a long-time high school football coach in Texas.
Detmer's challenge is to turn around a program that was 0-10 last season, and he's doing it without any head coaching experience.
"I knew coming in that it wouldn't be an overnight change," Detmer said. "You never want to be the guy to follow the 10-0 season as much as you do the 0-10, so it's been a great situation. The kids are working hard, great attitude, and it's just fun to be out on the field again."
Detmer also finds himself in the unusual position of coaching kids who know little or nothing about his accomplishments as a football player.
"You start feeling real old," Detmer said with a smile on his face. "None of these guys were born when I won the Heisman; it's been 20 years now. That was a long time ago, and they let you know it all the time. It does date me but at the same time, you know, it keeps me young and energetic."
Detmer spent 14 seasons in the NFL. He retired from the league after the 2005 season.
After some time away from the game, Detmer says he's happy to be back on the football field teaching kids how to play the sport he loves.
"The camaraderie, when you retire from football, is what you miss more than anything," Detmer said. "You're back in that mold again with the players, and at the same time, though, they got to respect you and what you're doing. They've been great so far."
E-mail: jjensen@ksl.com
