Bronco Mendenhall has been appointed as the head football coach at Utah State University, signing a six-year contract. Mendenhall, a seasoned coach with 18 years of experience, previously led teams at New Mexico, Virginia, and BYU. Known for his leadership and ability to develop young athletes, Mendenhall aims to elevate Utah State's football program. His career highlights include taking Virginia to its first Orange Bowl and achieving consistent bowl appearances with BYU. Mendenhall's return to Utah also allows him to be closer to his family.
Jerrod Calhoun, former head coach at Youngstown State, has been named the new head men's basketball coach at Utah State University. Calhoun has a successful coaching record, including leading Youngstown State to consecutive 20-win seasons and multiple postseason appearances. He is known for his recruiting skills and understanding of the competitive nature of college basketball. Calhoun's appointment has been praised by various figures in the basketball community, and he is eager to lead the Aggie program to success on and off the court.
Utah State University's head women's basketball coach Kayla Ard has been relieved of her duties after four seasons, with a record of 24-90 overall and 10-62 in the Mountain West. The university's Vice President and Director of Athletics, Diana Sabau, expressed appreciation for Ard's contributions but stated that a change is in the best interest of the program. A national search for the next head coach will commence immediately.
Jed J. Hancock, president of Utah State University's Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL), defied expectations after being told he would never become an engineer. With the support of his mentor, engineering professor Doran Baker, Hancock earned a NASA fellowship and went on to lead SDL. The lab partnered with the University of Arizona to develop the cameras for NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, which successfully collected samples from the asteroid Bennu. SDL's contributions to space exploration include upcoming missions to study the asteroid Apophis and launch a telescope from the International Space Station.
Danny Sprinkle has been named the new head coach of Utah State University's men's basketball team. Sprinkle has 23 years of collegiate coaching experience and a record of 81-43 (.681) in four years as a head coach. He led Montana State to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2022 and 2023, as well as consecutive Big Sky Championships. Sprinkle's hiring aligns with Utah State's mission of developing outstanding student-athletes on and off the basketball court, competing for conference championships, and advancing to postseason play.
