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Provo • Ben Cahoon is coming back to BYU.

Dismissed three years ago when then-coach Bronco Mendenhall shuffled his offensive coaching staff, Cahoon was hired on Wednesday by new coach Kalani Sitake to coach the Cougars' receivers.

"Ben is one of the most prolific receivers in CFL history and has a great football mind," Sitake said in a school news release. "He is an excellent football tactician and teacher and is passionate about helping the young men in our program."

Cahoon coached at BYU in 2011-12 and was a receiver for the Cougars from 1995-97.

In between, he played for 13 years in the Canadian Football League and became the CFL's all-time receptions leader (1,017) and was inducted into the CFL Hall of Fame in 2014.

"I am humbled and excited for the opportunity to be back at BYU," Cahoon said. "I am eager to work with the talented group of young men who are currently in the program and excited to hit the road and recruit athletes who will thrive in this special and unique environment."

Cahoon is the seventh assistant coach hired by Sitake since the former Oregon State defensive coordinator became BYU's coach on Dec. 19. He joins offensive coordinator Ty Detmer, defensive coordinator Ilaisa Tuiaki, assistant head coach and tight ends coach Ed Lamb, defensive line coach Steve Kaufusi, offensive line coach Mike Empey and strength and conditioning coach Nu'u Tafisi.

Three openings remain, presumably for a running backs coach, a secondary coach and a linebackers coach.

Cahoon graduated from Mountain View High in Orem in 1990 and played two seasons at Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho) from 1993-94. He has worked as a sales representative for a sports medicine company the past three years.

He is married to the former Kimberli Herbert, daughter of Utah gov. Gary Herbert, and the couple has four daughters.

Twitter: @drewjay