BYU Hires Veteran QB Coach Tyler Hughes After 10+ Stops

Tyler Hughes has been at every level of football, and now he is finally back in his home state.

The new BYU assistant quarterbacks coach has made more than 10 stops throughout his 23-year career. He estimates his family has lived in at least 15 different residences, a number he says is hard to pin down accurately. One of his four sons attended six different elementary schools during those moves.

Hughes replaced Matt Mitchell, who departed in January to become the passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Colorado State. Offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick has known Hughes for decades and kept him on his list of potential assistant coach candidates. Roderick said Hughes crushed the interview, making it clear he was hiring a strong football coach.

The Cougars are currently ranked No. 8 and hold a 3-1 conference record. They host Arizona State at 1:30 p.m. MDT on Saturday at LaVell Edwards Stadium. The team looks to recover from a 39-31 double-overtime loss to UCF last week. Hughes joined the staff to work directly with sophomore quarterback Bear Bachmeier, whom he calls a top-tier talent in the country.

Hughes brings experience from high school, junior college, and major NCAA programs including Ohio State, Washington, and Alabama. He also spent two stints in the NFL with the New England Patriots. He served as a head coach at Bountiful High, Southern Virginia, and Minot State. He compiled a 20-4 record over two seasons at Snow College before moving to Ohio State in 2013.

His coaching history includes working under Bill Belichick in New England and Kalen DeBoer at Alabama. He was an offensive analyst at Washington in 2023, the year the Huskies reached the CFP national championship game. He returned to New England in 2024 before joining the Alabama staff in 2025 as a football analyst.

Hughes said he was happy at Alabama but jumped at the chance to get closer to home when Roderick and head coach Kalani Sitake reached out last winter. He credited his wife, Lisa, and their four sons, Kenyon, Isaac, Will, and Max, for supporting the frequent relocations. He noted that the family has lived in every time zone in the continental United States.

Bachmeier is the primary focus of Hughes' current role. The coach praised the sophomore's decision-making, accuracy, and physical toughness. He said Bachmeier has the skills to play in the NFL and possesses great arm talent. Hughes also works with freshman Enoch Watson and backup Treyson Bourguet, who joined the program in December.

Watson said he spoke with Hughes for 30 minutes after the hire and was impressed by his coaching background and personal connection. He described Hughes as a leader who shows love for God and cares deeply about the players. Hughes reached out to former quarterbacks, including Cam Newton and Mac Jones, to thank them for helping shape his career.

Hughes attended a BYU pro day in the spring of 2022 while working for Belichick to evaluate running back Tyler Allgeier. He said that visit was the first time he seriously considered a return to campus. He said the decision to join BYU was based on professional variables and the program's health. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to coach in Utah.