AJ Steward heading to Arizona to coach RBs

https://247sports.com/college/arizona/Article/Arizona-to-hire-BYU-AJ-Steward-to-coach-running-backs-143802302/



BYU’s AJ Steward is headed to Arizona after being named the Cougars' running backs coach in 2018. He worked at Rice from 2014-2017 after previously serving a season as a graduate assistant.


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https://kslsports.com/428586/aj-steward-arizona-byu-running-back-coach-hired/



With Steward now headed to Arizona, head coach Kalani Sitake has an opening on his coaching staff as he heads into his fifth season at BYU. Sitake has hinted at assignment changes taking place within his staff in the past.



If Sitake, Aaron Roderick, and Grimes opt to hire another running backs coach, keep an eye on Montana State running backs coach Jimmy Beal who has close connections to Jernaro Gilford from their days in Los Angeles. Another option is former BYU running back Harvey Unga who has served as a graduate assistant in the program the past two seasons.



Offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes in his previous stop at LSU was the running game coordinator with the Bayou Bengals as recently as 2017.



BYU spring practices begin on Monday, March 2nd.

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Fido wrote:

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Why do they always start bringing up former player. How about instead they mention coaches who already have experience.

Im a big Unga fan!



... and I think he's been there longer than 2 years

It's hard to see him leave after the great recruiting he did at BYU to help patch gaps, but a coach moving to a higher paying position on a P5 team only reflect well on the job he was doing.

a1247 wrote:

Why do they always start bringing up former player. How about instead they mention coaches who already have experience.

https://byucougars.com/staff/football/1289664/Harvey-Unga

Harvey Unga - Entering his 6th year as a grad assistant at BYU, worked with RBs for the past 2 seasons



https://dixiestateathletics.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/jd-falslev/728

JD Falslev - Spent 4 years on the offensive staff at BYU before joining Dixie State as their Wide Receivers coach/recruiting coordinator in 2019.



https://snowbadgers.com/coaches.aspx?rc=232

Coach [Jan] Jorgensen will serve as the Defensive Coordinator and Linebacker coach (for 2019). Prior to Snow College, Jorgensen spent one season as the defensive coordinator at Orange Coast College, and three years as a Graduate Assistant Coach at Brigham Young University where he helped coach the team to two bowl games. He also served as the Head Coach at Carbon High School for one season.



You act like these guys have no coaching experience. They each have 5-6 years of experience under their belts in various capacities--including the one for which BYU has an opening.

Unga had a nice endorsement by Squally Canada on Twitter. too lazy to look it up.

I hate that people are still citing the fact that candidates are Polynesian as a plus because they could land Poly recruits.



I don't think one more Poly coach is going to make that much difference at this point. BYU has that box checked six time already with Sitake, Tuiaki, F. Sitake, Ah You, Feula, and Tafisi (plus another Ah You, Fitisemanu, and Damuni also on staff).