His wife had just given birth to twins.
He was a young defensive line coach at Idaho State. His head coach gave him an ultimatum: tell me I'm right about your coordinator, or you're fired.
He quit instead.
Then he took a job monitoring in-school suspension at a high school. Twelve dollars an hour.
A year later he was head coach at Park City High. Then the phone rang, out of nowhere, from a coach at Northern Arizona named Bronco Mendenhall.
In his own words: he asked if I wanted to coach the defensive line, when I had really nowhere to go. He gave me an opportunity.
Utah hired him. Southern Utah made him a head coach. Urban Meyer brought him back.
Then Kyle Whittingham, the coordinator he'd refused to sell out in Pocatello, made him his first defensive coordinator.
In 2008 that defense went undefeated and beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. He was a finalist for the award given the best assistant in America.
Utah State hired him next. Three winning seasons in the prior twenty-eight years.
Two losing years to fix it. Then 7-6. Then 11-2 and a conference title.
When Wisconsin called, he phoned every player on his roster himself to tell them he was leaving.
Two years in Madison. 19-7. A division title. Then he left it for Oregon State, one of the worst programs in the country. His athletic director never saw it coming.
It didn't work. Year three opened 1-5 and he resigned in October, four years still on the deal.
Twelve million, six hundred thirty thousand dollars, guaranteed. He signed a paper releasing them from every cent.
"How could I wake up every day and look at myself in the mirror knowing I took money from the kids in that program?"
Utah State hired him again, then fired him midway through 2020 with three years and $2.7 million left.
He refused that too. Roughly fifteen million dollars, turned down twice, because he hadn't done the work.
Then a volunteer analyst job at an FCS school. Then a year with no job at all.
He is 62. He works at BYU now. His title is Chief Consultant to the Head Coach and Senior Defensive Consultant.
Last September the school that fired him put him in its Hall of Fame.
Last fall the Cougars went 12-2, their best season since 2001.
Find him after practice and he's usually walking off the field, talking to one player.
Gary Andersen.
Now you see the whole picture.
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Bryson Barnes was the Ottawa Redblacks’ 2nd leading rusher tonight and had 4 successful short-down conversions.
Capped off by his 1st official CFL Touchdown 🙌
Division I adopts age-based eligibility model.
The single standard replaces sport-specific rules and waivers. Changes will be fully implemented for the fall 2027 incoming class.
The Cabinet's decision is not final until its meeting concludes Wednesday.
https://t.co/6pa6dkfNPh
👀If I’m a recruit at any level from high school, junior college or four year transfer… would educate myself how this can benefit your situation or if you need to find a place to land asap.
The Division I Cabinet has unanimously voted to approve the age-based eligibility model. Additional details to follow.
The Cabinet’s decision is not final until its meeting concludes Wednesday.