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BYU hires Ty Detmer as offensive coordinator

sam cooper
College football writer

BYU is bringing in the program’s only Heisman Trophy winner to run its offense.

The school announced Thursday that new head coach Kalani Sitake has officially hired Ty Detmer as offensive coordinator. Detmer, the 1990 Heisman winner and BYU’s all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns, spent the past six seasons as the head coach at St. Andrew’s Episcopal, a high school in Austin, Texas.

“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 head first. I couldn’t be more excited.”

Detmer threw for 15,031 yards in his BYU career – fifth best in NCAA history. After his time at BYU, Detmer had a 14-year career in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons.

The school also announced the hire of Ilaisa Tuiaki as defensive coordinator. Tuiaki and Sitake coached together this season at Oregon State. Tuiaki was the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator while Sitake served as defensive coordinator for the Beavers.

“It’s an honor to announce Ty Detmer and Ilaisa Tuiaki as the offensive and defensive coordinators on our coaching staff at BYU,” Sitake said. “Each has an exceptional football mind and a real passion to help our young men succeed on and off the football field.  I am looking forward to working with them as we complete our staff and prepare our team for the 2016 season.”

Tuiaki is a Provo native who had stints as an assistant at Utah and Utah State before his year at Oregon State. He played collegiately at Southern Utah.

“I am excited to be back home,” Tuiaki said. “I’ve always been a fan and tied to the BYU program growing up just down the street from the stadium. I’m grateful to the Oregon State family and for Coach Andersen and everything he’s done for my career. I am really looking forward to this new opportunity to work with Kalani and help the great young men at BYU reach their goals.”

BYU finished 9-4 this season after losing to rival Utah in the Vegas Bowl on Dec. 19.

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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!