Get ready for an inspiring episode of Beyond the Game as host Mike Lacey sits down with Kelly Popinga, BYU Football's Special Teams Coordinator and Defensive Ends Coach. From earning the nickname "K-Pop" from a teammate's daily dose joke to becoming "Coach Pop" at Virginia and beyond, Kelly's journey exemplifies loyalty, growth, and the power of relationships in college football. After transferring from Utah State to play for Bronco Mendenhall, Kelly developed into a team captain and defensive leader before beginning his coaching career.

His coaching philosophy centers on building trust through truth-telling and accountability while creating family-like bonds with players - taking them golfing, having them over for dinner, and developing the tight-knit connections essential for special teams success. Kelly shares the secrets behind BYU's creative special teams plays, including the famous "MJ" fake field goal against UCF that required weeks of practice with punter Sam Vanderhaar. He explains how special teams gets roughly 30 opportunities per game to impact field position and momentum through "complementary football." From managing the tension between offensive and defensive coordinators who don't want to give up players, to recruiting diverse talent that embraces BYU's culture of focus and minimal distractions, Kelly reveals how the program builds unity across different backgrounds and beliefs.

Through stories of player leadership, defensive schemes that confused Colorado's Shedeur Sanders, and the reality of coaching loyalty in modern college football, Kelly demonstrates how staying true to your values while adapting and growing can create lasting impact both on and off the field.