Utah State hired New Mexico head coach Bronco Mendenhall for the same position at USU, the Aggies announced Friday. He signed a six-year deal.
Mendenhall spent one season at UNM, which went 5-7 in 2024 but showed substantial progress down the stretch. The Lobos won five of their last eight games, including a victory over Washington State.
“Bronco is one of the most experienced coaches in college football. His leadership, proven record, and deep understanding of the game make him the ideal choice to elevate our program,” USU athletic director Diana Sabau said in a press release. “Bronco’s success goes far beyond football. He has a profound connection and care for developing young men. His student-athletes are proven leaders, and he has consistently built programs that emphasize character, discipline, and excellence in every aspect of their lives.”
Nate Dreiling had been the Aggies’ interim head coach for all of 2024. USU went 4-8 this year. Blake Anderson was fired as head coach before the season began.
“Athletics is an important part of the Utah State University experience, and the success of our football program is at the forefront,” USU President Elizabeth R. Cantwell said. “The impact that a championship-level football program can have on the profile of the university, the student-body experience, with our alumni and in the Cache Valley community, is immeasurable. Bronco Mendenhall is absolutely right for this moment at USU and he will help propel us into a great future.”
Mendenhall has coached at multiple programs in that region of the country before. And with 140 wins, he’s in the top 100 all-time among Division I head coaches.
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Mendenhall was BYU’s head coach for 11 years, from 2005 to 2015. He was also BYU’s defensive coordinator from 2003-04. He was the head coach at Virginia from 2016-21.
Mendenhall was a defensive coordinator and secondary coach at New Mexico from 1998 to 2002. During that time, he worked with New Mexico legend Brian Urlacher.
Mendenhall started his coaching career after playing on defense at Snow College and Oregon State in the 1980s. He was then a graduate assistant at OSU in 1989 and was a secondary coach and DC at Snow College from 1991-92. He’s also been a secondary coach and co-defensive coordinator at Northern Arizona, a defensive line coach and defensive coordinator at Oregon State, and a secondary coach at Louisiana Tech.
“My passion is developing young people and transforming football programs to reach their full potential,” Mendenhall said. “Utah State provides a great opportunity to do both and allows a family focus that is essential to me and Holly. We look forward to adding to Utah State’s rich tradition and striving for football excellence.”
