New BYU coach Kalani Sitake announced the hiring of two coaches on Thursday, a duo that includes legendary Cougars quarterback Ty Detmer as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Ilaisa Tuiaki, who followed Sitake from Oregon State,was named BYU's defensive coordinator. He spent one year with the Beavers as linebackers and special teams coach while Sitake served as defensive coordinator.
"It's an honor to announce Ty Detmer and Ilaisa Tuiaki as the offensive and defensive coordinators on our coaching staff at BYU," Sitake said in a statement released by the university. "Each has an exceptional football mind and a real passion to help our young men succeed on and off the football field. I am looking forward to working with them as we complete our staff and prepare our team for the 2016 season."
Detmer, who won the Heisman Trophy among a slew of accolades for his record-setting 1990 season as BYU's quarterback, has coached at a high school in the Austin, Texas, area since 2009. He spent 12 seasons in the NFL, mostly as a backup, after leaving the college ranks with a 162.7 passer rating, then an NCAA record.
"My family and I are extremely excited to be part of the football program at BYU again," Detmer said. "I feel it is the right time to make a move and jump in head first. I couldn't be more excited."
Tuiaki, a native of Provo, Utah, spent 2012 through 2014 as Utah defensive line coach before spending one season with Sitake at Oregon State under head coach Gary Andersen. Tuiaki was a 2013 nominee for the Broyles Award, which honors the NCAA's top assistant coach.
"I am excited to be back home," Tuiaki said. "I've always been a fan and tied to the BYU program growing up just down the street from the stadium. I'm grateful to the Oregon State family and for Coach Andersen and everything he's done for my career. I am really looking forward to this new opportunity to work with Kalani and help the great young men at BYU reach their goals."