Holmoe explains missionary recruiting

BYU athletic director, responding to an inquiry about BYU athletics, prospects on missions and a so-called policy, said the school really doesn’t have a policy.

Holmoe’s comment came Tuesday night on a program called “Around the Mountain” on the Mtn network during a week dedicated to BYU sports.

Holmoe said BYU’s athletic department does not have a policy per se about contacting or recruiting of missionaries who are serving on missions.

“What we do with our athletes who are serving missions is correspond them, send them letters of encouragement for them to be good missionaries and do a work which is more important than sports. These letters aren’t of the kind that includes sending scores and such,” said Holmoe.

When the time comes towards the end of a mission, BYU provides athletes on missions with “appropriate information” about deadlines, enrollment and other items necessary to help them with their return on campus and school and transition from missions to campus life.

If an athlete from another school, who is on a mission, contacts BYU or asks about enrolling, “we respond,” said Holmoe.

“We really don’t have a policy, as much as it is a way we approach it,” said Holmoe.

Holmoe refused to address a specific athlete (in this case USU transfer Riley Nelson who is in Spain on a mission).