It was Cade Fennegan's dream to play at BYU.
"I grew up a Cougars fan. My dad played for BYU. You know, I grew up watching them … I was a die-hard," Fennegan said.
As a talented quarterback from Dallas, Texas, Fennegan was recruited by Boise State in 2020 after serving a two-year mission in Argentina. He played in three games at Boise State, one of which was against BYU.
His dream to play for BYU came true when he transferred from Boise State in 2021.
While at BYU, Fennegan didn't play as much as he hoped, only appearing in one game against Southern Utah University in 2023. Despite this, his time at BYU was instrumental in shaping him.
Fennegan's impact off the field is something that can't be measured by his game stats. Off the field, he is known as a charismatic, friendly guy whose passion for football inspired teammates and friends alike.
"Cade was that guy you wanted to be friends with … I felt like he had this bond with every single teammate. It was so unique," said BYU quarterback Treyson Bourguet.
Fennegan graduated from BYU, but his time with the team was not over. Towards the end of his time as a player, he spoke with BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick about his future. This conversation led to Fennegan becoming an assistant coach for BYU football during the 2024-2025 season.
"He was really well-respected by his teammates and coaches in the program, and we thought he had the right temperament to help our coaching staff," Roderick said.
As a coach, Fennegan was vital to the success of the offense. He scouted out upcoming opponents, signaled during games and talked with quarterbacks during the game. His knowledge of the team and experience helped him connect with players.
"He's a player's coach. I mean, he's been there on the field literally a year prior … he understands it, what it looks like in our eyes," Bourguet said.
Though Fennegan loved his year coaching football, he felt that it was time to move on to new endeavors. This led him to transfer to Abilene Christian University to spend his last year of college eligibility as a quarterback.
The Lord has a plan for everybody, right? If you just try to follow what he wants for you and you have a little humility in the process, he'll make sure that you're taken care of.
Fennegan now lives in Abilene, Texas, with his wife, Dalyce. He works for a company servicing oil fields and construction sites.