The coaching carousel never stops spinning, and this week it almost flung Kalani Sitake away from BYU! Penn State's head coach vacancy had everyone on the edge of their seats, and it looked like Sitake might be headed to Happy Valley. But hold on – BYU just slammed the brakes, persuading their head coach to stay put with a brand new, long-term contract extension.
BYU Athletic Director Brian Santiago made the announcement, stating, "We are excited to announce a long-term agreement to extend Kalani Sitake as BYU's head football coach. He is a proven leader, and we are grateful he is once again choosing BYU. His legacy of building a championship program the BYU way will continue on. He is one of the best people in the business. We are excited to continue to ride the wave of positive momentum with him."
But here's where it gets controversial... Why was Penn State so interested in Sitake in the first place? What qualities did he possess that made him such a hot commodity?
ESPN's Pete Thamel reported earlier that Sitake had "begun to inform people that he intends to stay" at BYU, with the school working on a "lucrative contract" to keep him. CBS Sports also chimed in, reporting that BYU was "working hard" to retain Sitake and that there was "optimism" within the program that he would stay. It seemed like the Cougars were pulling out all the stops.
Multiple sources indicated that Sitake had emerged as the primary target for Penn State. On3.com even reported that Sitake and the Nittany Lions had engaged in "extensive conversations in recent weeks." This suggests a serious level of interest from Penn State's side. What exactly was discussed in those conversations? That remains a mystery for now.
Now, consider this: Penn State fired James Franklin way back on October 12th, yet their coaching search had been surprisingly quiet. Other major programs like Florida, LSU, and Virginia Tech swiftly filled their vacancies. Why the delay in Happy Valley? Andy Staples of On3 Sports suggested a fascinating theory: Penn State might have had their eye on someone coaching a team preparing for a conference title game. And this is the part most people miss... This strategy allows a program to potentially land a coach who has proven their worth on a big stage, but it also carries the risk of a last-minute change of heart, like what almost happened with Sitake.
Sitake certainly fits that bill, as BYU is gearing up to face Texas Tech in the Big 12 Championship Game. A victory would guarantee them a spot in the College Football Playoff. Even without the win, the Cougars have a chance to make the Playoff. Currently ranked No. 11, they are the lowest-ranked one-loss team in the CFP Top 25.
Let's break down Sitake's impressive track record. He's in his 10th season at BYU, boasting an 83-44 overall record. He's led the Cougars to four double-digit win seasons in the last six years, including an outstanding 11-1 mark this year. This level of consistent success is what likely caught Penn State's attention.
On the other side of the coin, Penn State finished their regular season strong with three consecutive wins under interim head coach Terry Smith. They ended up at 6-6 overall, marking their fifth consecutive season with at least six victories. While not a championship-caliber record, it shows a program with a solid foundation.
So, what does this all mean? Did Penn State really want Sitake, or was he just a convenient name to float while they pursued another target? And what does this contract extension mean for BYU's future? Will Sitake lead them to even greater heights in the coming years? What do you think? Was BYU right to offer Sitake a lucrative extension, or should they have let him explore other opportunities? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
