BYU coach Kalani Sitake rejects Penn State and renews contract with Cougars

Kalani Sitake, the head coach of BYU football, has officially agreed to a contract extension with the Cougars, the school announced on Tuesday. This decision comes amid reports that Penn State had been pursuing Sitake as they continue their search for a permanent head coach.

The No. 11 ranked BYU team, boasting an 11-1 record this season, is set to face Texas Tech in the Big 12 Championship game, with a College Football Playoff berth on the line. Texas Tech, currently ranked No. 5, is the only team to have defeated BYU this season.

Sitake has been at the helm of BYU since 2016, compiling an 83-46 record. Under his leadership, the program has had only two losing seasons and achieved 10 or more wins in four of the last six campaigns. Last season, BYU finished 11-2, capping the year with a victory over Colorado in the Alamo Bowl. After a challenging first Big 12 season in 2023 with a 2-7 conference record, the Cougars have improved to 15-3 in conference play since then.

A former BYU fullback and member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sitake returned to his alma mater after serving as Oregon States defensive coordinator from 2014 to 2015. Prior to that, he spent a decade as an assistant coach at Utah. His hiring made him the first Tongan to lead a top-level college football program.

According to On3, Sitakes new contract will pay him over $9 million annually, placing him among the highest-paid college coaches in the country. In comparison, only 13 coaches earned above $9 million in 2024, based on USA Todays database.

BYUs retention of Sitake is a major boost for the program, which has become a prominent force in the Big 12. Conversely, it represents a setback for Penn State, which remains the only major Power Five program still searching for a permanent head coach. The Nittany Lions dismissed James Franklin after a three-game losing streak left them at 3-3. Interim coach Terry Smith subsequently led Penn State to three consecutive victories, finishing the season 6-6 and reaching a bowl game. Meanwhile, other programs such as Nebraska, Missouri, and Vanderbilt have already secured contract extensions for their head coaches during the ongoing coaching market shuffle.

Author: Sophia Brooks