PROVO, Utah – BYU head football coach Kalani Sitake announced today the hiring of Jernaro Gilford as cornerbacks coach, Reno Mahe (pronounced mah-hay) as running backs coach and Tevita Ofahengaue (pronounced oh-fah-hay-NAH-way) as the director of recruiting operations.
“I’m pleased to announce the final additions to the coaching staff and our director of recruiting,” Sitake said. “Jernaro was not only a great corner but also has done an excellent job as a coach developing young men into NFL-caliber players. Reno is energetic, loves BYU and brings NFL experience as a running back and return specialist. Tevita has excellent recruiting connections and is passionate about helping young men be successful.”
With the final additions to the coaching staff, Sitake also specified all the position responsibilities for his assistants. Offensive coordinator Ty Detmer will coach quarterbacks, Mike Empey offensive line, Ben Cahoon receivers, Steve Clark tight ends and Mahe running backs. Assistant head coach Ed Lamb will serve as the special teams coordinator and safeties coach while defensive coordinator Ilaisa Tuiaki will coach linebackers, Steve Kaufusi defensive line and Gilford cornerbacks.
Gilford, a former BYU cornerback (1999-03) and first-team All-Mountain West Conference honoree, joins the staff after spending the previous two seasons at Southern Utah coaching the secondary, working primarily with cornerbacks.
“I feel blessed by the opportunities I’ve received both at SUU and now at BYU,” Gilford said. “SUU will always have a special place with me as the first Division I school to give me a chance to coach. I’m really looking forward to this opportunity to come back to BYU, where I played college football, and contribute once again to such a great program.”
Gilford’s Thunderbird secondary was one of the best among FCS programs in 2015. SUU’s defense racked up 20 interceptions, good for No. 3 in the FCS. Southern Utah’s pass defense limited opposing teams to just a 102.5 pass efficiency rating, ranking No. 9, an improvement over being ranked 111th the previous year. The T-birds gave up just 190.3 yards per game through the air and just 20.8 points per game, ranking 30th and 24th in the FCS, respectively.
In 2015, Gilford coached two Big Sky All-Conference first teamers in cornerback LeShaun Sims and safety Miles Killebrew. Both are projected NFL players as late-round 2016 NFL Draft picks by CBS Sports. Killebrew was selected to play in the Reese’s Senior Bowl while Sims recently participated in the East-West Shrine game.
Prior to working at Southern Utah, Gilford coached at Whittier College in Whittier, California, as a graduate assistant for two years, working with cornerbacks and assisting with special teams. He helped cornerbacks Tyquion Ballad and Josh Pride earn all-conference honors.
Gilford played in 37 games at corner for BYU with 28 starts, totaling 10 interceptions in his career. He had his best year in 2001 when he earned first-team All-MWC honors and started all 14 games including the Liberty Bowl against No. 22 Louisville. Gilford totaled 56 tackles and led the team with six picks, returning them 131 yards, including a 50-yard interception return against Utah to seal BYU’s 24-21 victory. His six interceptions ranked tied for No. 6 in the nation in 2001.
He entered his junior season with preseason All-America accolades and was named the 15th-best corner by Phil Steele but was slowed by a knee injury, limiting him to seven games. He finished his senior year starting all 12 games, recording two interceptions and a team-leading six pass breakups.
Gilford graduated from BYU in 2004 with a degree in sociology and earned a master’s in education from Whittier College in 2014. He and his wife Brittany have a son, Jernaro, Jr.
Mahe, another Cougar alum, returns to BYU after an NFL career with the Philadelphia Eagles. He played running back and served as a return specialist for the Eagles, amassing 1,600 return yards in his five seasons. Mahe led the NFL in punt return average in 2005 and played in Super Bowl XXXIX as a member of the 2004 NFC Championship team.
“It is very humbling to have this opportunity,” Mahe said. “I’m excited to return to this unique and great university, and I’m grateful for the chance to contribute to the BYU football program coaching running backs.”
Tongan born and a Brighton High School product, Mahe played running back and receiver for the Cougars in 1998 and in the 2001-02 seasons after a stint at Dixie College where he led the nation in receiving with 57 receptions, 1,387 yards and 19 touchdowns. He was named a Junior College Gridwire Second Team All-American.
Mahe was one of the best all-purpose players in Cougar history, totaling 166 receptions for eighth all-time, 2,163 receiving yards for 13th and is 11th in all-purpose yards with 3,417. His best season was as a junior in 2001 when he led the Mountain West Conference with 91 receptions, 1,211 yards and nine touchdowns, earning all-conference honors.
He has coached at various football camps across the country since 2007, including the Ty Detmer Camp. Mahe serves on the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Board of Directors and has served on the Boys and Girls Club Board of Directors.
Mahe, who has eight children, is married to former BYU volleyball freshman All-American Sunny Tonga. He graduated from BYU with a bachelor’s in sociology.
Ofahengaue joins the Cougar staff as the director of recruiting operations after spending the past five years working as a vice president of the AIGA Foundation, a non-profit group that helps Polynesian athletes get scholarship opportunities.
“I’m extremely blessed and excited to be part of the BYU football program,” Ofahengaue said. “My job is to go get the best kids who will thrive here at BYU, and it’s truly an honor to be back at my alma mater.”
A native of Laie, Hawai’i who prepped at Kahuku High School, Ofahengaue played tight end for BYU from 1997-2000 and caught 62 passes for 853 yards and four touchdowns. He was the final pick of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals, spending two years in the league in Phoenix and in Jacksonville, Florida, with the Jaguars.
Ofahengaue started into the coaching and administrative side of football working as the director of football operations for the Gridiron Classic College All-Star game from 2001-03 before serving as tight ends/running backs coach at Kahuku High School in Hawai’i from 2003-05. He worked at the University of Utah in 2005 as the assistant director of football operations, focusing on recruiting, and served as a staff coordinator for the Hula Bowl College All-Star game in 2005-07. He has coached at several Utah high schools in various capacities on staff with Westlake, Lehi and most recently Orem, where he was the wide receivers coach from 2014-15.
Ofahengaue graduated with a bachelor’s of sociology from BYU in 1999 and is currently pursuing a master’s in special education. He and his wife Carey have seven children and are the owners of Crossroads Youth Services, providing resources for case management, crisis intervention and mentoring.