Introductory Media Availability for Lamb, Tuiaki and Detmer

BYU assistant head coach Ed Lamb | Video

Process of ending up at BYU:
It was a long process starting back with being a teammate of Kalani and we were close friends there and had each others back on the field and off the field. I would say we’ve been interviewing each other over the past 15 years. We’ve kept track of each other where he’s been and where I’ve been.
It’s kind of neat to see guys grow. Often times guys that we played with if we don’t stay in contact we tend to keep them in the same box as when we knew them 20 years ago. He’s grown tremendously and I’m so proud of him and what he’s accomplished and it’s an honor to be a part of this staff.

Assembling the staff:
At this point, it’s a daily ongoing process. We meet briefly as a staff each day and talk about the general shape of the staff and how it ought to look. It’s coming together really well.

Assistant head coach:
It is broad. It’s flexible by design. In the immediate future as we put together the rest of the staff, I may move to defense, that’s not off the table. That’s where most of my coaching experience is and I’m comfortable there as well as offense. As we work through how this program is going to be managed and led, if I can help Kalani in any way that we’re not talking about right now we have the flexibility in the system to do it.

Joining Kalani’s staff:
I think it was always clear if either one of us had the opportunity to be the head coach here that the other one would want to join. I think those conversations go on over the years. I always felt like if he got a head coaching job I would want to be part of his staff.

Head coaching experience:
There are more similarities than differences, the way I can help Kalani the most right now is to encourage him to stay on the track he’s on. He’s got a great sense for leading young people and I want to be somebody who helps by instilling confidence in the message he’s already got.

BYU defensive coordinator Ilaisa Tuiaki | Video

On coming to BYU:
Obviously Kalani is my guy. It’s hard to turn your guy down. I have the utmost respect for Gary Andersen. He has helped me a lot in my career. It was hard to leave Gary, but at the same time it was leaving to be with another guy I trust. For me, it was a win-win situation.

Running the defense:
It is still kind of in the making. We just have to do what is best for the kids and what fits the personnel. We have some ideas, but it’s still up in the air on how we will do what is best for the kids, which is the first priority. There have been a lot of great defenses that have played here, and I just want to continue to build off of that. 

On BYU:
I grew up a BYU guy. I grew up right across the street. I ran around and ran by the stadium. I’m really excited to be back to my roots. I’ve always followed this school I am exciting, but t’s still setting in for sure.

Recruiting:
Obviously I can’t talk a lot about recruits, but we are just trying to get after the best kids. Every kid is a little different as far as what they’re looking for and what the fit will be. The pitch will be making sure it is the right fit for them. We just have to do what is best for them even if they end up going somewhere else. 

Talent:
I have watched some film. I’m excited. We have some good talent. The kids play hard, which is a tribute to what Bronco did here and what the kids have done so far.

New coaches:
It was awesome to meet Ty. I’m still star-struck. I’m still a fan. It’s awesome to be around a legend like that. He is a great person, which adds to his legend. There are no egos in this coaching staff. It is a good group. I didn’t really know Ty or Ed, but they are both outstanding guys. It’s an exciting time.

Getting the team ready:
I think the first thing is to get these guys set up academically. Make sure they are in their classes and have the tutors they need. Ib believe they will start lifting next week and have other things to get them ready for spring ball.

Team meeting;
It was a good meeting, very simple and not long. They kind of got a taste of what Kalani's like. He’s a laid back, good person. I’m sure they’ve been used to how Bronco was, but Kalani is a little bit different, which is a good thing. I think everyone has accepted the change, and we are excited and ready to move forward.

Past coaches as mentors:
Gary and Kyle are both great motivators and both have their own styles. There are a lot of things to learn from them. I appreciate them both for what I have learned from them. They have taught me a lot about them game. They are a big part of who I am today. 

BYU offensive coordinator Ty Detmer | Video

On the decision to come to BYU:
My daughters are kind of at that point in their high school career where it kind of just felt like now is the right time. With my age I’m feeling like ‘if you’re ever going to do it, now is the time.’ It just so happened it fell into place and felt really comfortable with Coach Sitake and everybody that’s coming on board. You pray about it and get those answers. I really felt like it was the time to go, the thing to do.

On making the jump to coordinating a college offense:
That was something I thought about, trying to make the decision to come in. Obviously it’s a big jump that way. I saw Chad Morris—he coached at the high school my daughters went to and knew him. He made the jump to Tulsa and did some great things there and obviously Clemson and now the head coach at SMU. I was well aware of the pressures here and the scrutiny that comes with it. I felt that given the opportunity and that people believed in me, we’re going to jump right in and go to work.

On the offensive direction:
The idea is to come in and be balanced. I played here and I saw a stat on Twitter somebody posted yesterday that my stat line from the Hawaii game my senior year I was 14 of 20. People kind of have the impression that we threw it every down here back then. There were games where we did have to throw it 40 or 50 times, but for the most part it was 25 or 30 and we ran the ball. There’s been thousand-yard rushers. You want to be balanced. Today’s game you’ve gotta keep the defense honest and stay inside of the chains and take possession and move the football. We’ll take our shots. We’re going to have some opportunities, but I’d like to see a little more use of the tight end. Obviously, there’ll be some two-back. We’ll get to multiple formations. Again, as I told the guys this morning, if you can play, we’ll find a spot for you. We’ll create some opportunities for you so that’ll be up to what we have to work with come August.

On Tanner Mangum:
Tanner’s a very poised young man. Obviously he’s been on a mission and a little older than your typical true freshman, but to come in and have to plan in that situation, it was remarkable what he did. He didn’t have an offseason to get ready and some of those things just getting back. I can’t say enough good things about the way he handled himself and the way he played. I know he’s excited to have an offseason and get his body going and get his feet underneath him for the next year.

On Taysom Hill:
Conversation has been great with Taysom. He’s a great person and I’ve had a relationship with him over the last couple of years. Nothing where we talked every week, but every time we saw each other we’d talk a little football. I’ve really appreciated what he’s brought to the program. Definitely hope he’s back. We want him here. I said it a couple years ago: he’s probably the greatest athlete to play the quarterback position here. No offense to Steve Young, but Taysom’s put together a lot better than Steve was. He gives me a hard time about my chicken legs so I gotta take my shot while I can. Taysom’s a great player and we want him back. He’s been a leader for this team and unit. I told the guys today there should be competition at every position and that’s what makes you great. Not that you can’t work together through it. Everybody just needs to focus on being the best player they can be and let the coaches figure out the rest.