Meet the coach who works less than anyone else in major college...
Thad Wells@ThadWells
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May 30, 2025
~4 min read
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Meet the coach who works less than anyone else in major college football.
A safety at Oregon State who never dreamed he'd revolutionize coaching.
Bronco Mendenhall has cracked the code that most coaches miss entirely.
🧵THREAD
A safety at Oregon State who never dreamed he'd revolutionize coaching.
Bronco Mendenhall has cracked the code that most coaches miss entirely.
🧵THREAD
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Growing up on a Utah horse ranch, Bronco's path wasn't linear.
His dad played in the NFL. His brother was a second-round draft pick.
Bronco? He barely knew what a graduate assistant did when he said yes to the job.
His dad played in the NFL. His brother was a second-round draft pick.
Bronco? He barely knew what a graduate assistant did when he said yes to the job.
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He stumbled through early coaching stops at Oregon State, Snow College, and Northern Arizona.
Still had no idea if he even wanted to coach.
Then Rocky Long at New Mexico called.
Still had no idea if he even wanted to coach.
Then Rocky Long at New Mexico called.
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Bronco built one of college football's most innovative defenses with Long. They developed the 3-3-5 scheme that produced NFL star Brian Urlacher.
By age 35, he was a defensive coordinator in the Pac-10 without ever deciding this was his calling.
Successful, but something was missing.
By age 35, he was a defensive coordinator in the Pac-10 without ever deciding this was his calling.
Successful, but something was missing.
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BYU hired him as head coach in 2005.
First season: 6-6. Respectable.
Next two seasons: 11-2 and 11-2. Elite level.
But Bronco was miserable. Ready to quit after year three.
First season: 6-6. Respectable.
Next two seasons: 11-2 and 11-2. Elite level.
But Bronco was miserable. Ready to quit after year three.
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The mailman was giving him game advice.
Fans criticized every decision at gas stations.
He was an introvert trapped in an entertainer's job.
Despite winning, he told his wife: "I think our football career will end."
Fans criticized every decision at gas stations.
He was an introvert trapped in an entertainer's job.
Despite winning, he told his wife: "I think our football career will end."
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Holly said one word: "No."
Instead, he went to Florida to meet Dr. James Loehr.
Loehr asked the question that changed everything: "Who are you without your job, your title, and your money?"
Instead, he went to Florida to meet Dr. James Loehr.
Loehr asked the question that changed everything: "Who are you without your job, your title, and your money?"
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That weekend, Bronco crafted his purpose.
Learning. Teaching. Serving. Developing. Helping.
Football became the platform, not the purpose. Everything changed when he discovered why he coached, not just how.
Learning. Teaching. Serving. Developing. Helping.
Football became the platform, not the purpose. Everything changed when he discovered why he coached, not just how.
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Back at BYU, he implemented something radical.
His goal: Work fewer hours than any coach in college football while getting better results.
Most coaches thought this was impossible. Bronco proved them wrong.
His goal: Work fewer hours than any coach in college football while getting better results.
Most coaches thought this was impossible. Bronco proved them wrong.
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"Work expands to the boundaries you set," he discovered.
If the head coach stays until midnight, everyone stays until midnight.
If the head coach leaves at 5 PM, the team learns to work with deadly efficiency.
If the head coach stays until midnight, everyone stays until midnight.
If the head coach leaves at 5 PM, the team learns to work with deadly efficiency.
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His staff accomplished more in fewer hours than programs working twice as long.
Secret? Eliminate everything that doesn't directly impact winning.
No time for busy work. No tolerance for inefficiency. Every minute had to matter.
Secret? Eliminate everything that doesn't directly impact winning.
No time for busy work. No tolerance for inefficiency. Every minute had to matter.
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This wasn't about working less to be lazy.
It was about creating space for what actually matters.
When coaches went home at 5 PM, they could invest in their families.
They returned energized, not exhausted.
It was about creating space for what actually matters.
When coaches went home at 5 PM, they could invest in their families.
They returned energized, not exhausted.
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The results spoke louder than critics.
At BYU: 99 wins in 11 seasons. Never a losing record.
At Virginia: Took a 2-10 program to the Orange Bowl in four years.
Efficiency wasn't the enemy of excellence. It was the path to it.
At BYU: 99 wins in 11 seasons. Never a losing record.
At Virginia: Took a 2-10 program to the Orange Bowl in four years.
Efficiency wasn't the enemy of excellence. It was the path to it.
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But Bronco's genius went deeper than time management.
He understood something coaches miss: Extreme expectations create extreme results.
His players didn't just earn victories. They earned everything.
He understood something coaches miss: Extreme expectations create extreme results.
His players didn't just earn victories. They earned everything.
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Jersey numbers? Earned through performance, not seniority.
Workout gear? Color-coded system based on fitness levels.
Practice opportunities? Nothing was guaranteed.
Everything was earned, not given.
Workout gear? Color-coded system based on fitness levels.
Practice opportunities? Nothing was guaranteed.
Everything was earned, not given.
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At New Mexico, his first semester produced something unprecedented.
Highest team GPA in school history: 3.22.
This wasn't about lowered football standards. This was about raised life standards.
Highest team GPA in school history: 3.22.
This wasn't about lowered football standards. This was about raised life standards.
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His players thanked him after the hardest workouts of their lives.
They chose to stay when other programs offered more money.
They discovered they were "capable of doing hard things."
They chose to stay when other programs offered more money.
They discovered they were "capable of doing hard things."
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After Virginia, Bronco stepped away from coaching.
Not burned out. To regroup.
He spent two years on his Montana ranch, training horses and reflecting.
Most coaches can't imagine life without football. Bronco thrived in it.
Not burned out. To regroup.
He spent two years on his Montana ranch, training horses and reflecting.
Most coaches can't imagine life without football. Bronco thrived in it.
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That distance gave him clarity.
College football needs leaders who understand that developing people matters more than just developing players.
The landscape is chaotic, but the opportunity for real impact has never been greater.
College football needs leaders who understand that developing people matters more than just developing players.
The landscape is chaotic, but the opportunity for real impact has never been greater.
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Now at Utah State, Bronco brings 140 career wins and a revolutionary approach.
He's proven you can work smarter, demand more, and still create balance.
The question isn't whether his methods work. It's whether you're ready to try them.
He's proven you can work smarter, demand more, and still create balance.
The question isn't whether his methods work. It's whether you're ready to try them.
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I've spent the last 10 years learning from—and working under—Coach Mendenhall.
Recently I put what I learned from Bronco into a free guide to help other coaches and leaders understand how he does it.
Comment "Bronco" and I'll DM it to you!
Recently I put what I learned from Bronco into a free guide to help other coaches and leaders understand how he does it.
Comment "Bronco" and I'll DM it to you!
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