BYU’s Aaron Roderick Receives QB Coach Of The Year Recognition

PROVO, Utah – Aaron Roderick didn’t play the quarterback position as a player, but he’s sure found success coaching up quarterbacks.

FootballScoop.com named Roderick the 2020 Quarterback Coach of the Year for his work this past season with BYU’s quarterback room. Roderick, a former wide receiver at BYU, was promoted last month to offensive coordinator.

FootballScoop has named @CoachRoderick the 2020 Quarterbacks Coach of the Year.

Roderick was selected for the national honor among five finalists, which also included Steve Sarkisian, Willy Korn, Brian Johnson and Eric Evans.#BYUFOOTBALL #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/DHcUWJ5FBf

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) February 9, 2021

BYU in 2020 was 11-1 and finished with its highest final ranking in 24 years in large part due to the quarterback play of Zach Wilson. Wilson went on to finish eighth in Heisman Trophy voting and is now in position to be a top-five NFL draft pick.

During the past season, Wilson gave thanks to Roderick for his development as a quarterback.

“No, he didn’t play the position, and he would tell you that straight off that maybe he doesn’t know the most about throwing mechanics and the way the body generates velocity in a throw, and he would admit that first hand,” said Zach Wilson to KSL Sports last November about Roderick’s impact on his career. “But he knows schemes, he knows how to develop a quarterback mentally, and he knows how to teach a quarterback progressions and reads and confidence in an ability to play. I’ve seen that transition over my whole career.”

BYU QBs are thriving under Aaron Roderick

During his first three years as BYU’s Passing Game Coordinator, the Cougars won games with four different starting QBs. But the breakthrough came in 2020 with Roderick and Wilson and taking BYU’s offense to new heights.

BYU finished third in scoring offense at 43.5 points and was eighth in passing yards at 332.1 yards per game.

When looking back at the 2020 season, and his relationship with Wilson, Roderick points to a big win at Boise State as a highlight.

“We had to make some adjustments at halftime; there was just a lot of things about the game that felt like, this is why I coach,” Roderick said to KSL Sports.  “This is why I do this, and it was one of those nights that was just was a good feeling. Had a good moment with him [Zach] after the game.”

Roderick’s colleagues at BYU congratulated A-Rod on the QB Coach of the Year recognition with uplifting messages on social media.

“No one more deserving. So blessed to work for this man,” tweeted BYU Passing Game Coordinator Fesi Sitake. BYU running back coach Harvey Unga wrote, “He leads by example day in and day out. Grateful to work for and learn from one of the best!!”

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m., KSL Newsradio). Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper and the KSL Sports app.