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BYU names former QB Ty Detmer as offensive coordinator

By The Sports Xchange
Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Ty Detmer on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2004. (UPI Photo/Nell Redmond)
Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Ty Detmer on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2004. (UPI Photo/Nell Redmond) | License Photo

Former Brigham Young quarterback Ty Detmer was hired Thursday as offensive coordinator at his alma mater without any previous college coaching experience.

Detmer, the only Heisman Trophy winner in school history, joins new coach Kalani Sitake's staff after serving as the head coach at a private high school in Austin, Texas, the past six years.

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The 48-year-old Detmer is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame after playing for the Cougars from 1987 to 1991 and passing for 15,031 yards and 121 touchdowns. The two-time All-American won the Heisman in 1990.

Detmer went on to spend 12 years in the NFL mostly as a backup for five teams before becoming the coach at St. Andrews Episcopal School in 2009.

His nephew, Koy Detmer Jr., is a backup quarterback at BYU.

"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 headfirst. I couldn't be more excited."

The hiring of Ilaisa Tuiaki as BYU's defensive coordinator also was confirmed. Tuiaki is another first-time coordinator who previously served as the linebackers and special teams coach at Oregon State, where Sitake was defensive coordinator before landing the Cougars' head coaching job.

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"I am excited to be back home," said Tuiaki, who lived in Provo, Utah. "I've always been a fan and tied to the BYU program growing up just down the street from the stadium."

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