Report: BYU’s Kalani Sitake Spoke With Oregon About Head Coach Vacancy

PROVO, Utah – BYU football head coach Kalani Sitake continues to find his name in the spinning coaching carousel.

According to a report from The Oregonian’s John Canzano, Sitake spoke with Oregon this week about their head coach vacancy.

Oregon Ducks have talked with BYU coach Kalani Sitake about their coaching vacancy, per source.

— John Canzano (@johncanzanobft) December 9, 2021

When Mario Cristobal left Oregon to return home to his alma mater at Miami, Sitake’s name immediately populated on big boards for the open Ducks position.

Along with Sitake, Canzano reported that the Ducks want to speak with Cal’s Justin Wilcox and two other candidates. One of which could be from the NFL.

Kalani Sitake, BYU in conversations

Earlier this week, BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe on BYUtv’s BYU Sports Nation was asked what the athletic department is doing to secure Sitake’s future. Holmoe replied, “We are in conversations with Kalani at this point in time, and he’s our coach. We want him for a long time and good things are going to happen in the near future.”

#BYU's Tom Holmoe during an interview on BYUtv today on what is being done to secure the future of Kalani Sitake:

"We are in conversations with Kalani at this point in time, and he’s our coach. We want him for a long time and good things are going to happen in the near future."

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) December 6, 2021

Sitake has guided BYU football to back-to-back double-digit win seasons. This year’s 10-2 record and No. 13 ranking in the final College Football Playoff Top 25 might be the most impressive work in Sitake’s six years at BYU.

Back in August, BYU gave Sitake an additional two-year contract extension to keep him as the coach of the Cougar Football program through the 2025 season. But that was before this year’s 10-win season that included a perfect 5-0 mark against Pac-12 teams and a 6-1 overall record against Power Five competition.

The coaching market has also changed drastically since this past summer. Coaches around college football are pulling in upwards of $90 million extensions to keep head coaches at the current spots.

Oregon reportedly offered Mario Cristobal an $85 million contract extension to stay with the Ducks. He turned that down to be home and closer to his ailing mother. But what it shows is that with Nike’s Phil Knight, the Ducks are willing to pay a premium for their next headman.

It’s not clear what Kalani Sitake’s salary is at BYU as the school is a private institution owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

BYU is gearing up for its final game of the 2021 season, coming up in 10 days when they take on the UAB Blazers in the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, Louisiana. Sitake and his team are expected to leave for the Boot this Tuesday.

BYU football players express concern over Coaching Carousel

Players from BYU’s football program turned to social media hours before Canzano’s report saying they want Sitake back with the Cougars.

Tight end Masen Wake tweeted, “I hope BYU doesn’t mess this up with Kalani.” Wake turned down scholarship opportunities coming out of Lone Peak High School to sign with BYU as a preferred walk-on.

I hope BYU doesn’t mess this up with Kalani❤️

— Masen Wake (@MasenWake13) December 9, 2021

Oregon State transfer cornerback Kaleb Hayes expressed similar concern. “#PayKalani and our staff they deserve it!!”

#PayKalani and our staff they deserve it‼️ 😤🙏🏾

— Kaleb Hayes (@King_Hayes001) December 9, 2021

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.

Follow @Mitch_Harper