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BYU’s Aaron Roderick is promoted to offensive coordinator

He replaces Jeff Grimes, who departed on Monday to become the OC at Baylor

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Pass game coordinator Aaron Roderick is interviewed by the media as BYU hosts their eighth-annual football media day at the BYU-Broadcasting Building on Friday, June 22, 2018.

  | Jan. 5, 2021, 4:51 a.m.
| Updated: 2:53 p.m.

It didn’t take long for BYU head football coach Kalani Sitake to find a new offensive coordinator. Less than 24 hours in fact.

Sitake announced Monday evening that Aaron Roderick, BYU’s passing game coordinator for the past three seasons, replaces Jeff Grimes, who departed for Baylor.

“I know firsthand the exceptional coach Aaron is from working on the same staff for 15 years during our careers,” Sitake said. “He is an experienced play-caller and coordinator and a great mentor and teacher. I’m thrilled to have Aaron as our new offensive coordinator.”

Assistant coach Fesi Sitake will take over as the passing game coordinator.

A Bountiful native and former BYU receiver, Roderick coached at the University of Utah for 12 seasons on Kyle Whittingham’s staff, including several seasons as offensive coordinator.

Both Roderick and Fesi Sitake got a taste of their new jobs last month during the Cougars’ Boca Raton Bowl win, as they called the offensive plays in Grimes absence. Grimes and offensive line coach Eric Mateos were unable to travel for the bowl game, although no reason was given by Sitake as to why they were absent.

Roderick takes over the new position with 21 years of coaching experience, including 10 seasons as a coordinator.

This last season, as passing game coordinator and a play-caller, Roderick was instrumental in the Cougar offensive attack that ranked third in scoring offense (43.5 ppg), No. 7 in total offense (522.2 ypg) and No. 8 in passing offense (321.1 ppg). BYU also finished in the top 15 in 10 different statistical categories overall.

The Cougars tied for No. 1 nationally in yards per play at 7.84 and led all of FBS programs in plays of 30 or more yards with 45, while ranking No. 3 in both plays of 10 or more yards (234) and 20 or more yards (83).

Roderick’s shining moment of the 2020 season was the growth of BYU quarterback Zach Wilson, who finished No. 8 in the Heisman Trophy voting, was a finalist for the Manning Award and a semifinalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year, the Maxwell Award and the Davey O’Brien Award.

“I am incredibly honored to be the offensive coordinator at BYU because I understand this program’s legacy and truly appreciate the great coaches that have been in this position in the past to build that legacy,” Roderick said. “I’m grateful to Kalani for this opportunity. He and I have worked together for 15 years at three different schools, and he is the kind of coach I want to work for and someone in whom I have so much trust and respect. I also really appreciate Coach Grimes for not only wanting me to be a part of his staff when I came back to BYU but also putting a lot of trust in me with the passing game.”