Kalani Sitake, Kyle Whittingham Named To National Coach Of The Year Watch List
Oct 15, 2025, 3:35 PM | Updated: 3:36 pm
PROVO, Utah – BYU football head coach Kalani Sitake and Utah football head coach Kyle Whittingham have each been named to the 2025 Bear Bryant National Coach of the Year watch list.
The pair joins 26 other coaches across the country in the running for the award.
The award is presented each January to a college football coach for contributions that enhance the sport for athletes and fans alike by demonstrating grit, integrity, and a winning approach to coaching and life – both on and off the field.
RELATED: How To Watch, Stream, Listen To No. 15 BYU Football Vs. No. 23 Utah
🏆 The 2025 Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Watch List is LIVE!
The Coach of the Year will be announced January 21, 2026 at the 40th annual #BryantAwards ceremony presented by @memorialhermann! pic.twitter.com/AA1ZIXtxVD
— Paul "Bear" Bryant Awards (@bryantawards) October 15, 2025
Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards will also hand out Conference Coach of the Year awards for the Power Four conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC) and one for the combined Group of Five conferences (American Athletic Conference, Conference USA, Mid-American Conference, Mountain West Conference, and Sun Belt Conference).
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2025 Bear Bryant Coach of the Year Award watch list
Bret Bielema – University of Illinois – Big Ten Conference
Curt Cignetti – Indiana University – Big Ten Conference
Mario Cristobal – University of Miami – Atlantic Coast Conference
Ryan Day – The Ohio State University – Big Ten Conference
Kalen DeBoer – University of Alabama – Southeastern Conference
Eliah Drinkwitz – University of Missouri – Southeastern Conference
Mike Elko – Texas A&M University – Southeastern Conference
Tony Elliott – University of Virginia – Atlantic Coast Conference
Matt Entz – Fresno State – Mountain West Conference
Willie Fritz – University of Houston – Big 12 Conference
Alex Golesh – University of South Florida – American Athletic Conference
Josh Heupel – University of Tennessee – Southeastern Conference
Brian Kelly – LSU – Southeastern Conference
Brent Key –Georgia Tech – Atlantic Coast Conference
Lane Kiffin – Ole Miss – Southeastern Conference
Dan Lanning – University of Oregon – Big Ten Conference
Clark Lea – Vanderbilt University – Southeastern Conference
Joey McGuire – Texas Tech University – Big 12 Conference
Dan Mullen – UNLV – Mountain West Conference
Brian Newberry – Navy – American Athletic Conference
Lincoln Riley – USC – Big Ten Conference
Scott Satterfield – University of Cincinnati – Big 12 Conference
Ryan Silverfield – University of Memphis – American Athletic Conference
Kalani Sitake – BYU – Big 12 Conference
Kirby Smart – University of Georgia – Southeastern Conference
Jon Sumrall – Tulane University – American Athletic Conference
Brent Venables – University of Oklahoma – Southeastern Conference
Kyle Whittingham – University of Utah – Big 12 Conference
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No. 15 BYU hosts No. 23 Utah at LaVell Edwards Stadium in a rivalry week showdown on Saturday, October 18.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
