Most see him as Coach Mendenhall. Some see him as simply as Bronco. He is an amazing individual regardless of what name or title. Can you even begin to imagine the pressure on your shoulders if you were "Coach" with the Cougars rich tradition? Or the example that must be constantly set? It is an absolutely awesome and mind boggling responsibility. It all began back in Alpine Utah forty something years ago on the 12st of February when the world had its first ever glimpse of Marc Bronco Clay Mendenhall. Even in childhood Bronco demanded executing at a higher level. Bronco has never been satisfied with less than excellence in absolutely everything he does on or off the field. After graduating from Alpine HS Bronco enrolled at Snow College and quickly became a two year starter at CB for the Badgers. As a sophomore captain at Snow JC he helped guide the Badgers to an undefeated 11-0 record and Nationship Championship. Success seems to follow Bronco wherever he went. Moving onto Oregon State he was also a two year starter for the Beavers. At OSU Mendenhall received a bachelors degree in education and a masters with the emphasis in exercise physiology. Upon graduation he became a grad DL assistant for the Beavers. In 1991-92 Bronco returned to Snow as a defensive coordinator over the secondary. After a few stints in coaching with N Arizona, Oregon St, Louisiana Tech he moved to New Mexico under Rocky Long. While at UNM Bronco coached eventual NFL pick and future Hall Of Famer Brian Urlacher. In 2003 he was hired by then Coach Gary Crowton as the defensive coordinator. However, after Crowton resigned Mendenhall was handed the Cougar reigns on 13 Dec 2004 and became the Cougars 14th head football coach. Tradition, spirit, example, character and honor are clearly a part of the culture found within BYU and Bronco himself. Some see it as a reason for weakness but Bronco embraces it as a pillar for success. Coach Mendenhall has said "The team that works the hardest, plays the best and practices with the most focus each day will be the winner every one of those games". He is honest and upfront with his players, fellow coaches and expects accountability, effort and discipline. In his first season Coach Mendenhall took a program to a 6-5 record and a bowl game. Bronco has quickly placed the Cougs clearly back on the map. With an 11-2 record in the 2006 season and an outright MWC Conference championship (undefeated 8-0 in conference) Bronco lead the program to a dominating (38 to 8) victory over Oregon in the Las Vegas Bowl. Wonder if Coach Belotti still feels the same bout the Cougs not belonging in the Pac10? Last year the Cougs under Bronco posted a similar 11-2 record while beating more Pac10 opponents Arizona and UCLA (thank you Eathyn "Fingers" Manumaleuna). Since having the coaching reigns handed to him Bronco has gone 28-10 overall yet 21-3 in conference as compared to 14-21 during the 3 previous seasons. Coach Mendenhall has definately re-established the program on solid ground. With the foundation set look for the Cougs and Bronco to expect only bigger and better things to come in "The Quest". He has also been quoted "It was important for us just to get back in the bowl business but now I think we want more. I still see this as the beginning of the road and not the end of anything in our development". With the right pieces in place for the program look for magic to happen under the leadership of who many call simply Bronco.
11 July 2008
Simply Bronco
Most see him as Coach Mendenhall. Some see him as simply as Bronco. He is an amazing individual regardless of what name or title. Can you even begin to imagine the pressure on your shoulders if you were "Coach" with the Cougars rich tradition? Or the example that must be constantly set? It is an absolutely awesome and mind boggling responsibility. It all began back in Alpine Utah forty something years ago on the 12st of February when the world had its first ever glimpse of Marc Bronco Clay Mendenhall. Even in childhood Bronco demanded executing at a higher level. Bronco has never been satisfied with less than excellence in absolutely everything he does on or off the field. After graduating from Alpine HS Bronco enrolled at Snow College and quickly became a two year starter at CB for the Badgers. As a sophomore captain at Snow JC he helped guide the Badgers to an undefeated 11-0 record and Nationship Championship. Success seems to follow Bronco wherever he went. Moving onto Oregon State he was also a two year starter for the Beavers. At OSU Mendenhall received a bachelors degree in education and a masters with the emphasis in exercise physiology. Upon graduation he became a grad DL assistant for the Beavers. In 1991-92 Bronco returned to Snow as a defensive coordinator over the secondary. After a few stints in coaching with N Arizona, Oregon St, Louisiana Tech he moved to New Mexico under Rocky Long. While at UNM Bronco coached eventual NFL pick and future Hall Of Famer Brian Urlacher. In 2003 he was hired by then Coach Gary Crowton as the defensive coordinator. However, after Crowton resigned Mendenhall was handed the Cougar reigns on 13 Dec 2004 and became the Cougars 14th head football coach. Tradition, spirit, example, character and honor are clearly a part of the culture found within BYU and Bronco himself. Some see it as a reason for weakness but Bronco embraces it as a pillar for success. Coach Mendenhall has said "The team that works the hardest, plays the best and practices with the most focus each day will be the winner every one of those games". He is honest and upfront with his players, fellow coaches and expects accountability, effort and discipline. In his first season Coach Mendenhall took a program to a 6-5 record and a bowl game. Bronco has quickly placed the Cougs clearly back on the map. With an 11-2 record in the 2006 season and an outright MWC Conference championship (undefeated 8-0 in conference) Bronco lead the program to a dominating (38 to 8) victory over Oregon in the Las Vegas Bowl. Wonder if Coach Belotti still feels the same bout the Cougs not belonging in the Pac10? Last year the Cougs under Bronco posted a similar 11-2 record while beating more Pac10 opponents Arizona and UCLA (thank you Eathyn "Fingers" Manumaleuna). Since having the coaching reigns handed to him Bronco has gone 28-10 overall yet 21-3 in conference as compared to 14-21 during the 3 previous seasons. Coach Mendenhall has definately re-established the program on solid ground. With the foundation set look for the Cougs and Bronco to expect only bigger and better things to come in "The Quest". He has also been quoted "It was important for us just to get back in the bowl business but now I think we want more. I still see this as the beginning of the road and not the end of anything in our development". With the right pieces in place for the program look for magic to happen under the leadership of who many call simply Bronco.
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