This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2010, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

BYU football coach Bronco Mendenhall said he did what he "thought was best for the program" on Saturday when he fired defensive coordinator Jaime Hill. It was "a difficult decision, but I have aligned myself with the way I think I can make a real difference in the program, at a deeper level," the coach said in his Monday news conference, making his first public statements since dismissing Hill after BYU's 31-16 loss to Utah State on Friday night. "First of all, I appreciate what Jaime has done for the program. He came to BYU at a time when I needed help as a head coach ...and Jaime helped us have a lot of success over the past few years," Mendenhall said. " I also know right now is a pivotal time in our program. ....and quite frankly, from my seat as being the head coach, I was not having enough influence, I was not able to stand shoulder-to-shoulder, arm-in-arm, and have the players see maybe the work ethic and the modeling that I would like to show. "

Mendenhall will resume the defensive coordinator responsibilities that he relinquished to Hill in 2008.

Moments earlier, Mendenhall said it his fault that he lost that control, and acknowledged it as a mistake. "I haven't been successful enough yet getting to this team's heart and getting them to lay it out there at a high enough level," he said. Another reason for Hill's firing was a "difference in leadership philosophy," Mendenhall said. The coach said it was his decision alone to fire Hill. He said he will continue to evaluate the entire program every week, when it was asked if more changes are in store. Regarding Hill's Saturday comments that he was being made to look like a scapegoat for the 1-4 start, Mendenhall said: "I don't think it is accurate." He said there is "more to it" than that, when asked if Hill was fired due to the defense's poor play. Mendenhall said reports that Hill was told he could resign or be fired are accurate. He said Hill was not given the option to remain on the staff in a lesser role. "Adversity and challenges bring out not only the best but the worst in people, and it also forces you to look hard at everything you're doing and how you're doing it, but maybe more importantly, why you're doing it," he said. More from today's presser: * Players Vic So'oto and Matt Reynolds were brought to the news conference. Both players said they were surprised at the firing. Neither saw any signs of friction, nor any verbal confrontations that would have led them to believe a change was in the works. So'oto said he doesn't think the firing will split the team because it is a clean break. If Hill had been allowed to stay in a lesser role, there might have been some "weird" feelings, he said. * Mendenhall said outside linebacker Jordan Pendleton is out 2-6 weeks with a sprained knee and will certainly miss the SDSU game. Safety Andrew Rich could "possibly" play on Saturday, despite an upper arm contusion and some shoulder issues. * The coach did not list any other injuries; However, receiver Cody Hoffman said on his twitter feed that he is also hurt. To what extent in unknown. * Mendenhall said receiver O'Neill Chambers, whose two-week suspension could end Wednesday, could return to the team if he has met certain criteria laid out for him by Mendenhall a few weeks ago. Mendenhall said he will get a report on Chambers' progress tonight or Tuesday and will see if the receiver has taken the steps necessary to return. * Regarding the thinness at OLB with Pendleton's injury, Aveni Leung-Wai will be moved from ILB to OLB, and DE Thomas Bryson will be cross-trained at OLB. * Mendenhall said he did not see much improvement between the Nevada and Utah State games, like he was seeing prior to the Nevada game. * The coach said Shaun Nua will be moved from an intern to a graduate assistant to take the role previously held by Kelly Poppinga, who is now a full-time coach on the defensive staff. * I'll have a complete transcript of the news conference, along with comments from So'oto and Reynolds, posted on this blog later today.