At least not yet. But I like the direction it could be going.

What I mean is that DT’s promotion doesn’t demonstrate that BYU is suddenly willing or actively motivated to hire non-member HCs for other sports. Until it happens in another sport outside of the Track & Field program, I think BYU’s unwritten practice of hiring LDS HCs will continue as the norm.

Women’s cross country is unique in that it falls under the overall Track & Field program. It’s basically treated and viewed as a unit of the Track and Field organization in which Ed Eyestone is the Head Honcho. He is DT’s boss and ultimately is in charge of all teams and units that fall under Track & Field.

In that light, Track & Field should almost be viewed similar to the Football program. Kalani is the HC of the entire Football program, similar to Ed Eyestone being the HC of all of Track & Field. As the Offensive Coordinator, Jeff Grimes was the “HC” of the offense (a unit of the football program) just as DT is the “HC” of the women’s cross country team (a unit of Track & Field).

I do really appreciate that BYU seems to be verbally softening their stance by acknowledging the LDS HC requirement is a long-standing practice and not a hard and fast rule. But hopefully we see a day where a non-LDS HC is hired in another sport that’s not nested under a larger program being run by an LDS member.