All signs point to BYU adding former player Preston Hadley as assistant football coach

Posted by on
Preston Hadley (left), pictured with Kelly Bills, returns to his alma mater to coach football (Brandon Garside, Standard-Examiner). 


With the NCAA allowing schools to add an additional assistant coach this season, there has been much anticipation who the BYU Cougars would hire for that position. All signs are pointing to former cornerback Preston Hadley being that person. His LinkedIn profile earlier today indicated his current job was Assistant Football Coach (Safeties) at BYU. He was also listed on the BYU Athletics Directory.



Apparently, BYU is not quite ready to announce the hire. Hadley's name has since been removed from the directory, and his LinkedIn profile has been changed back to say he is an assistant football coach at Weber State.

Hadley played for BYU as a cornerback in 2011 and 2012. He has spent the last two years at Weber State as a defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator. That makes two new assistant coaches for Weber State (Fesi Sitake is the other).

George Frey, Daily Herald
Although Hadley attended high school just 10 miles north of BYU, he came to BYU as a junior college transfer out of Snow College 75 miles to the south. He started all 26 games for BYU during his two seasons on the roster. The 2012 defense is considered by many to be the best defense in BYU history. He finished third on the team in tackles that season with 66. His most important play may be his only career interception. In a 6-3 win against Utah State in 2012, Hadley intercepted a pass at the BYU two-yard line to end an Aggie Scoring threat.

Hadley's greatest personal achievement while a Cougar could be his 14 pass breakups as a junior, which was tied for ninth most in the nation. He also had a career-high 11 tackles in a win at Oregon State that same season.

 Hadley's BYU Stats  Tackles  Sacks  Yards  TFL  PD  Int  Yds  TD  FF  FR  QBH 
 2011
51
1
6
2.5
14 
0
0
0
0
0
1
 2012 
66
1.5
9
3.5
7 
 1 
 0 
 0 
1
 0 
 2 
 Career 
117
 2.5 
15
6
 21  
 1 
 0 
 0 
 1 
 0 
 3 

Hadley had a tryout with the Seattle Seahawks following his BYU career. After that failed to materialize, he was a graduate assistant at BYU under Bronco Mendenhall for the 2013 and 2014 seasons. During that time he helped coach the scout team defense, defensive backs, and wide receivers. He also helped prepare game plans and analyze film. Hadley was also trained in recruiting, including developing marketing plans and hosting on-campus visits.

Hadley then went to Santa Ana College for one season, 2015, where he coached the cornerbacks, as well as the kickoff and punt return units on special teams. He also had recruiting, off-season workout program, film analysis, practice and game plan development, and social media management responsibilities.


The Editor appreciates all feedback. He can be reached via email at bluecougarfootball@gmail.com

Comments

Post a Comment