Anae makes his resignation official as BYU's offensive coordinator

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The Cougars will have a new offensive coordinator in 2011. BYU announced this morning that offensive coordinator Robert Anae has resigned as the Cougars' offensive coordinator and will pursue other opportunities.

What those other opportunities are is anybody's guess at the moment, but one BYU assistant just told me he believes Anae will go to Maryland as that school's offensive coordinator if former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach gets that job. Leach is reportedly interviewing for the Maryland job today. Anae and Leach worked together at Texas Tech before Anae joined BYU's staff.

Coach Bronco Mendenhall is still vacationing in Mexico and is scheduled to return Sunday evening. Most likely, he will meet again with the four other offensive coaches — Mark Weber, Lance Reynolds, Patrick Higgins and Brandon Doman — on Monday morning. Here's the news release from the school:PROVO, Utah (Dec. 30, 2010) — BYU offensive coordinator Robert Anae today announced he has resigned his position on the BYU football staff and will pursue other opportunities. "I have decided to resign at BYU and look forward to taking on the next chapter in my life and career," Anae said. "I want to express my gratitude to this university and to Coach Mendenhall for the opportunity I have had to coach at my alma mater and all we were able to accomplish over the past six seasons."Anae has served as offensive coordinator and inside receivers coach on the Cougar coaching staff since coming to BYU from Texas Tech in 2005. "I have tremendous respect for Robert Anae," BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "Robert is extremely loyal and trustworthy and a man of principle, faith and character. I appreciate all he has done for our program and for me personally the past six years. I consider him a dear friend."As BYU's inside receivers coach, Anae helped a Cougar tight end earn All-Mountain West Conference honors six times, including five first-team awards. BYU tight ends also achieved national accolades under Anae's tutelage as Jonny Harline received first-team All-America honors in 2006 and Dennis Pitta was named an NCAA Consensus All-American in 2009.During Anae's tenure as offensive coordinator, BYU earned top-25 NCAA statistical rankings in different offensive categories on 28 occasions, including 13 times in the top 10. The Cougars have ranked in the top 25 in third-down efficiency each of Anae's six seasons, including a No. 1 rating in 2009 and No. 2 rankings in 2008 and 2006. BYU achieved a top-6 passing offense three times (2005, 2006, 2008) in the past six seasons.A 17-year coaching veteran at five different schools, Anae has been part of many of BYU's most successful teams as both a player and a coach. An offensive lineman, he was a member of BYU's National Championship team in 1984 and part of four bowl teams from 1981-84 while earning second-team All-Western Athletic Conference honors. During the past six years as a coach at BYU, the Cougars have earned six bowl invitations with four bowl victories while winning two outright MWC championships and achieving an overall record of 56-21 (.727).