BYU coach Kalani Sitake rejects Penn State, opts for extension with Cougars

Kalani Sitake has confirmed his future at BYU, signing a new contract extension with the Cougars, the school announced on Tuesday. Reports had suggested Penn State was interested in hiring Sitake as its next head coach, but the BYU leader has chosen to remain in Provo.

The Cougars, currently ranked No. 11, hold an 11-1 record this season and will face Texas Tech for the Big 12 Championship and a chance at the College Football Playoff. The Red Raiders, ranked No. 5, are the only team to defeat BYU so far this year.

Since taking the helm in 2016, Sitake has guided BYU to an 83-46 record. Under his leadership, the team has only experienced two losing seasons and has recorded 10 or more wins in four of the last six campaigns. Last season, BYU finished 11-2, including a victory over Colorado in the Alamo Bowl. Despite tying for first in the Big 12, tiebreakers kept BYU out of the conference title game. After a challenging 2-7 conference record in 2023, BYU has improved to 15-3 in Big 12 play over the last two seasons.

A former BYU fullback and member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sitake returned to his alma mater following two seasons as Oregon States defensive coordinator. Before that, he spent a decade as an assistant coach at Utah. His hiring marked a historic milestone as he became the first Tongan head coach at the highest level of college football.

According to On3, Sitakes new contract will pay him over $9 million per year. This places him among the very few college football coaches earning that level of compensation, as only 13 exceeded $9 million in 2024.

Sitakes decision is a major win for BYU, solidifying the program as a rising power in the Big 12. Conversely, it is a setback for Penn State, which remains the only major Power Five school without a permanent head coach. The Nittany Lions dismissed James Franklin after a midseason slump, with interim coach Terry Smith guiding the team to a 6-6 finish and bowl eligibility. Other top programs, including Nebraska, Missouri, and Vanderbilt, have recently extended their coaches contracts, limiting the pool of available candidates.

Author: Sophia Brooks