Kalani Sitake Remains at BYU
Kalani Sitake, the head coach for BYU, has decided to stay in Provo.
Multiple sources report that Sitake turned down an opportunity to coach at Penn State, continuing his tenure with the Cougars, where he’s been since 2016.
On Tuesday evening, BYU confirmed Sitake’s long-term contract extension following his decision to reject the Nittany Lions’ offer.
“He is a proven leader, and we are grateful that he has chosen to stay with us,” said Athletic Director Brian Santiago. “His legacy of developing a championship program in line with BYU values will go on. He’s among the best in the business, and we are excited to maintain the positive momentum we’ve built together.”
According to reports, Sitake’s new contract is estimated to be worth about $9 million to $9.5 million annually, which includes a commitment from BYU for an NIL pool of $10 million to $15 million.
During his time at BYU, Sitake has earned a commendable 83-46 record, which features four seasons with double-digit wins.
“I feel humbled and grateful for the support from BYU fans and the confidence shown by university leaders in our football program,” Sitake said. “I appreciate President Shane Reese, Vice President Keith Bokink, and Athletic Director Brian Santiago, along with their leadership team, for their continued faith in us. This is important for the stability and future of BYU football, and I look forward to what lies ahead.”
Sitake, a former fullback at BYU, has had a varied coaching career before returning to the school nearly ten years ago.
Currently, BYU holds an 11-1 record this season and has a chance to qualify for the College Football Playoff should they win against No. 5 Texas Tech in the Big 12 championship game on Saturday.
His choice keeps Penn State’s coaching search ongoing.
After parting ways with James Franklin in mid-October, following a disappointing 3-3 start in a 12-year tenure, Penn State has reportedly explored numerous candidates without success.
Franklin, who boasts a 104-45 record with the program, later took a position at Virginia Tech.
The initial target was Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman, but other mentioned candidates include Nebraska’s Matt Rhule, Indiana’s Kurt Cignetti, and Tennessee’s Josh Heupel.
This coaching vacancy remains one of the last major positions yet to be filled, especially as LSU, the University of Florida, and Auburn University have already secured new coaches.
