Former BYU offensive coordinator Robert Anae, receiver Cody Hoffman and linebacker Kyle Van Noy will be returning to the BYU football team for the 2013 season.
Robert Anae returns as offensive coordinator for BYU, the job he held from 2005 until his resignation in 2010. Anae left BYU to be an offensive line coach and running game coordinator for Mike Stoops at the University of Arizona. Anae returns to a Cougar team that has struggled on offense the past two seasons. Cougar Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall feels that his new colleague is an ideal fit for the 2013 BYU offense.
“I am excited to announce Robert Anae as BYU’s offensive coordinator,” Menhenhall said in a press release on Jan. 4. “Robert is the ideal person to oversee our offense, and I’m thrilled he will be returning to BYU.”
Anae was key in mentoring BYU quarterbacks John Beck and Max Hall. He helped the Cougar offense to place in the top 10 in pass offense in 2005, 2006 and 2008. The Native Hawaiian also helped produce BYU’s top receiver in yards, receptions and touchdowns in Austin Collie, top receiving tight end Dennis Pitta, and the winningest quarterback of all time — Max Hall.
The former Arizona coach is also excited about being back at his alma mater.
“I’d like to thank Tom Holmoe, Bronco Mendenhall and the BYU administration for the opportunity to return to BYU,” Anae said in a press release. “My family and I look forward to an outstanding experience in a very familiar place.”
Along with Anae’s return, the BYU offense will also be bringing back its leading wide receiver, Cody Hoffman. Hoffman was a 2012 All-American honorable mention and was named MVP of the 2012 Poinsettia Bowl. Along with the personal honors, Hoffman also had over one-third of BYU’s receptions and yards, along with 11 of BYU’s 25 receiving touchdowns in 2012.
The leading target for the Cougar quarterbacks in 2012 was expected by many to go to the NFL, despite making it clear that he wasn’t sure whether he would go or not.
Hoffman said he was “50-50” on whether he would return to BYU or go to the NFL during an interview with the Salt Lake Tribune at the beginning of December. On Dec. 28, the wide receiver from California announced, however, that he would be staying with BYU.
“I’m proud to announce I’ll be returning to BYU for my senior year,” Hoffman said.
The final member of the returning trio is All-American linebacker Kyle Van Noy. Van Noy will look to improve upon his award-filled 2012 season with even more success in his 2013 senior season.
“I’ve decided to stay and complete my senior season at BYU,” Van Noy said in a press release. “I plan to finish what I started and feel like I’ve still got some unfinished business.”
The outside linebacker from Reno, Nev., will look to lead the Cougar defense during its difficult campaign in 2013 that includes Virginia, Texas, Utah, Utah State, Boise State, Wisconsin and Notre Dame.
During 2012 Van Noy received the 2012 CFPA Linebacker Trophy, second team All-American honors from CBSSports.com and third team honors from the Associated Press. He was a key figure on the No. 3 ranked Cougar defense. Van Noy led the Cougars in sacks and tackles for loss and forced a school record six fumbles in 2012. Van Noy also led the Cougars with two touchdowns in BYU’s 23–6 Poinsettia Bowl win over SDSU.
