BYU offensive line coach Darrell Funk and tight ends coach Steve Clark will not return to the staff next season, a spokesperson confirmed to The Salt Lake Tribune on Monday.
Funk’s departure comes after a season in which BYU ranked 118th in the country in total rushing, averaging 104 rushing yards per game and 3.48 yards per carry. The Cougars’ pass blocking also took a step back. Per Pro Football Focus, BYU went from No. 1 in pass blocking in 2022 to No. 43 this year.
BYU’s line was anchored by projected first-rounder Kingsley Suamataia. Connor Pay was also seen as a potential draft pick going into the season, while Paul Maile was a starter at Utah before coming to Provo.
Funk spent a large part of the year shuffling the line. Notably, Funk moved Pay from center (where he started in 2022) in favor of Maile. He eventually switched Pay back to center late in the season.
Funk spent three seasons in Provo after arriving from the University of Texas at San Antonio. The veteran coach has been part of a dozen programs since 1987. Most notably, Funk spent time at Michigan and Purdue coaching the offensive line.
Clark has been BYU’s tight ends coach since 2016. He was a graduate assistant for the Cougars in 2005 and then went to Southern Utah and Weber State as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach before returning to BYU in 2016.
Clark coached Isaac Rex, who became BYU’s all-time leader in touchdowns for a tight end this season.
The Cougars finished their first season in the Big 12 with a 5-7 record, missing a bowl game for the first time in six years.