Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
PROVO — Ever since former BYU fullback Kalani Sitake was named head coach a month ago, the Cougars have been "bringing home" former players and coaches to the program.
Former BYU wide receiver Ben Cahoon became the latest former player-turned-coach Wednesday morning — and perhaps the most recent former coach, too.
Cahoon rejoined the staff at BYU, where he was the wide receivers coach in 2011-12. The CFL Hall of Famer replaces Guy Holliday, who replaced Cahoon in 2012 but left to take the same position at Utah shortly after BYU's former regime moved to Virginia.
"I'm humbled and excited for the opportunity to be back at BYU," Cahoon said in a statement. "I'm eager to work with the talented group of young men who are currently in the program and excited to hit the road and recruit athletes who will thrive in this special and unique environment.
"I'm committed to helping our receivers become a technically sound unit who consistently make plays on the field while reaching their potential off the field."
Cahoon becomes the sixth coach who played at BYU to join the coaching staff in the brief Sitake era, with openings still at position coaches for running backs, linebackers and defensive backs.
In Cahoon, Sitake has a former player who also knows the program as a head coach — and has a track record developing some of BYU's more prolific athletes. During his first stint as wide receivers coach, Cahoon helped turn Cody Hoffman into career leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. The Crescent City, California, native ranked No. 12 nationally in 2012 with 1,248 receiving yards and finished his BYU career with 260 catches for 3,612 yards and 33 touchdowns. Like Cahoon did before him, Hoffman is currently playing in Montreal.
"I'm excited to announce Ben as the receivers coach at BYU," Sitake said in a statement. "Ben is one of the most prolific receivers in CFL history and has a great football mind. He is an excellent football tactician and teacher and is passionate about helping the young men in our program."
A native of Orem, Cahoon graduated from Mountain View High School then went on to standout college careers, first at Ricks College and then at BYU. A member of the 1996 Cotton Bowl team that finished 14-1 and ranked fifth in the nation, Cahoon caught 57 catches for 931 yards, the 23rd-most nationally in 1997.
Cahoon played his entire 13-year CFL career in Montreal, helping the Alouettes to three Grey Cup championships that included back-to-back titles in 2009-10. In 2014, he was inducted into the CFL Hall of Fame having finished his career as the league's all-time leader in receptions with 1,017 and a two-time recipient of the annual Most Outstanding Canadian awards.
Before rejoining BYU's coaching staff, Cahoon worked as a sales representative for Arthrex sports medicine. A 1998 graduate in pre-physical therapy, Cahoon and his wife, Kimberli, are the parents of four daughters.
