Kalani Sitake Staying at BYU, Turning Down Penn State Amid Coaching Carousel
In an era when college football coaches are constantly on the move and loyalty can feel like a relic of the past, Kalani Sitake just made a statement - and it echoes all the way from Provo to Happy Valley.
Despite being the reported top target in Penn State’s head coaching search, Sitake is staying put at BYU. The Cougars are finalizing a new contract extension to keep their head coach - and former fullback - on the sidelines in royal blue. The deal, which ESPN described as “lucrative,” isn’t officially signed yet, but all signs point to Sitake doubling down on his commitment to the program he’s led for the past decade.
Sources say Sitake has already begun informing those around him - including officials at Penn State - of his decision to remain in Provo. And if there was any doubt about how BYU fans and players feel about it, the reactions have been loud and clear.
“YES, yes, yes - he’s the best coach in the nation,” said defensive back Evan Johnson after BYU’s 41-21 win over UCF. That sentiment is echoed across the locker room and beyond, as the Cougars prepare for Saturday’s Big 12 Championship Game against No. 5 Texas Tech.
It’s not just Sitake who’s staying. The new deal reportedly includes significant support for his staff - notably offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick and defensive coordinator Jay Hill - as well as increased investment in the program’s NIL infrastructure. That’s a critical piece of the puzzle in today’s college football landscape, where retaining top talent on and off the field requires more than just tradition and game-day atmospheres.
Financial backing doesn’t appear to be an issue. The program has deep-pocketed donors like Nutricost CEO Min Kim, Crumbl CEO Jason McGowan, and King Husein of Span Construction - names that have become increasingly important in the NIL era. With that kind of support, BYU is showing it’s ready to play big in the Big 12.
Sitake’s resume speaks for itself. Since taking over in 2016, he’s posted an 83-44 record, with just two losing seasons, seven bowl appearances, and a 4-3 postseason mark. But it’s what he’s done since 2020 that really jumps off the page: a 56-19 record, good for the seventh-best winning percentage in the FBS over that stretch - trailing only powerhouses like Georgia, Ohio State, and Alabama.
And this season? The Cougars are 11-1 overall, 8-1 in Big 12 play, and heading into the conference title game with momentum and belief. Sitake’s blend of culture, conviction, and coaching chops has helped BYU navigate the challenges of NIL, the transfer portal, and a move to a Power Five conference - all while operating with what’s believed to be one of the smallest coaching budgets in the Big 12.
He’s more than a coach in Provo. A former missionary in Oakland and a proud ambassador for BYU and its sponsoring institution, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sitake has become the face of a program that’s punching above its weight - and doing it with authenticity.
His decision to stay also provides much-needed stability for a program with serious momentum on the recruiting trail. BYU currently holds the No. 20-ranked 2026 recruiting class, per 247Sports, headlined by four-star quarterback Ryder Lyons out of Folsom, California. The class also includes several top in-state prospects like Bott Mulitalo (Lone Peak), Brock Harris (Pine View), Adam Bywater (Olympus), and Lopeti "Juni" Moala (Orem).
With the early signing period opening Wednesday, Sitake’s decision couldn’t come at a better time. It sends a clear message to recruits and their families: the vision in Provo is long-term, and the man leading it isn’t going anywhere.
Kalani Sitake just turned down one of college football’s premier jobs to stay with the program that shaped him. In today’s landscape, that’s rare. And for BYU, it’s invaluable.