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BYU football coach Bronco Mendenhall has hired another former player to be a part of his staff.

Former Cougar defensive lineman (2005-2009, 2012) Russell Tialavea has been named assistant director of football operations at BYU.

Tialavea joins the football staff after working the past year as an academic specialist in the BYU Student Athlete Academic Center, where he served as an academic liaison with the football program.

"Russell is a remarkable individual who loves BYU and understands the needs of our players. We are excited to have him return to the program and look forward to his ongoing contributions to BYU football.

Tialavea will assist Patrick Hickman, who was recently hired as the director of football operations.

"I am really excited to be part of the football program at BYU. I am looking forward to making a great impact for both the players and the staff," Tialavea said.

A native of Oceanside, Calif., Tialavea played in 47 games for BYU, starting in 31.

He graduated in 2012 with a degree in sociology and earned the BYU Service Athlete of the Year Award in 2012.