When Kalani Sitake took the helm of BYU football in 2016, it was like handing a former fullback the keys to a spaceship. A Tongan-American alum who blocked for LaVell Edwards’ Cougars, Sitake was the first Tongan FBS head coach, bringing a fresh vibe to Provo. Fast forward to 2025, and he’s entering his 10th season with a 72-43 record, three double-digit win seasons, and a shiny new contract through at least 2027. The 2024 season—11-2, a No. 13 national ranking, and a 36-14 Alamo Bowl smackdown of No. 23 Colorado—proved Sitake’s not just surviving; he’s thriving. But the road hasn’t been all touchdown dances. From a 4-9 flop in 2017 to navigating independence, COVID, and the Big 12 leap, Sitake’s era is a saga of grit, faith, and a few plot twists. So, how’d he turn BYU into a Big 12 contender, and what’s next for the Cougars?
The Sitake Scorecard: Wins, Losses, and Legacy
Sitake’s 72-43 record (.626) through 2024 gives him the No. 8 winning percentage among FBS coaches over the past five years (45-18, .714), per BYU Athletics. His tenure includes six bowl appearances, three double-digit win seasons (11-1 in 2020, 10-3 in 2021, 11-2 in 2024), and marquee wins over Utah, USC, Tennessee, and Arkansas. Yet, early struggles and a tough Big 12 transition tested his mettle.
The Early Years: A Shaky Start
2016-2017: Growing Pains
Sitake inherited a program coming off Bronco Mendenhall’s 11-year run (99-43), but the cupboard was bare—only nine NFL draft picks in Mendenhall’s final three years, per Deseret News. Sitake’s 2016 debut went 9-4, with wins over Arizona (24-16) and Mississippi State (28-21), but 2017 was a disaster: 4-9, with no Power Five wins and a 40-6 loss to Wisconsin. The offense, averaging 17.8 PPG (118th nationally), was painful, and Sitake fired coordinator Ty Detmer, shaking up the staff to bring in Aaron Roderick.
2018-2019: Finding Footing
The turnaround began in 2018 with a 7-6 record, including a 49-18 upset of No. 6 Wisconsin. In 2019, despite quarterback Zach Wilson’s thumb injury, backups Jaren Hall and Baylor Romney delivered a 7-6 finish, though a 38-34 Hawai’i Bowl loss stung. Sitake’s record stood at 27-25, and questions lingered about consistency, per Wikipedia.
The Golden Era: 2020-2021
2020: COVID Chaos, Cougar Glory
The 2020 season, disrupted by COVID-19, was Sitake’s masterpiece. With an 11-1 record, BYU ranked No. 8 for four weeks, their highest in-season ranking since 2009. The Cougars averaged 43.5 PPG (3rd nationally) behind Wilson’s 3,692 passing yards and 33 TDs. They crushed UCF 49-23 in the Boca Raton Bowl, finishing No. 11 in the AP poll—the program’s sixth one-loss season ever, per KSL Sports. Sitake’s contract was extended through 2025.
2021: Sustained Success
Sitake kept the momentum, posting a 10-3 record and a No. 13 CFP ranking. Key wins included a 26-17 upset of Utah, snapping a nine-game losing streak, and victories over Arizona State (27-17) and USC (35-31). Despite a 31-28 Independence Bowl loss to UAB, BYU’s 21 wins from 2020-2021 trailed only Alabama’s Nick Saban and Cincinnati’s Luke Fickell, per ESPN. Another contract extension, dubbed “unprecedented,” locked Sitake through 2027.
Big 12 Transition: Bumps and Triumphs
2023: A Rough Welcome
Joining the Big 12 in 2023 was like jumping from a skateboard to a Formula 1 car. Predicted to finish 11th in the preseason media poll, BYU went 5-7, missing a bowl for the first time under Sitake. Losses to Kansas (38-27) and Oklahoma (31-24) exposed defensive depth issues, with BYU ranking 82nd in total defense (388.5 YPG). Offensively, Jake Retzlaff’s emergence (1,947 passing yards) offered hope, but the 2-7 Big 12 record fueled hot-seat talk, with The Athletic’s Stewart Mandel predicting Sitake’s firing.
2024: A Stunning Rebound
Sitake silenced doubters in 2024 with an 11-2 record, a 7-2 Big 12 mark (tied for first), and a No. 13 final ranking. The Cougars upset No. 23 Kansas (17-13) and SMU (15-12, the Mustangs’ only regular-season loss), finishing with a College Football Power Index Strength of Record rank of No. 12. The Alamo Bowl rout of Colorado drew 8 million viewers, the most-watched non-CFP bowl of 2024, per BYU Athletics. Sitake earned AFCA Region 4 Coach of the Year and was a George Munger Award semifinalist.
Why Sitake Succeeds
Sitake’s era shines because of his recruiting prowess, cultural fit, and adaptability, rooted in his BYU roots and Tongan heritage.
Recruiting and Roster Building
2024’s Historic Class
BYU’s 2024 recruiting class ranked No. 44 nationally, the highest under Sitake, per Sports Illustrated. With 21 of 25 signees holding Power Five offers, the class averaged mid-to-upper three-star ratings, a leap from low three-stars in 2020. Standouts like Sefo Akuila and Naki Tuakoi bolstered depth, critical for Big 12 competition. Sitake’s staff, including Jay Hill (defensive coordinator), won head-to-head recruiting battles, setting up 2025’s class to crack the top 40.
NFL Pipeline
Sitake’s mentored 13 NFL draft picks at BYU, including Sione Takitaki (2019, Browns) and Fred Warner (2018, 49ers), plus 33 overall in his 24-year coaching career. In 2025, undrafted free agents like Caleb Etienne (Bengals) and Jakob Robinson (49ers) continued the trend, per KSL Sports.
Cultural Leadership
Built4Life and NIL Innovation
Sitake’s Built4Life program, launched in 2021, supports athletes’ life skills and NIL opportunities, partnering with Built Brands to cover walk-on tuition and pay scholarship players up to $1,000 for marketing, per KSL.com. This aligns with BYU’s LDS Church mission, emphasizing “love and learning,” as Sitake noted in a 2025 devotional, per KSL Sports. His approach—treating transfers like Keelan Marion and Harrison Taggart with support rather than resentment—earned praise on X.
Polynesian Pride
As the first Tongan FBS head coach, Sitake’s 2025 induction into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame reflects his cultural impact. His heritage resonates with recruits, boosting BYU’s Polynesian pipeline, including players like Akuila and Tuakoi.
Challenges and Criticisms
Early Inconsistency
Sitake’s first four years (27-25) drew scrutiny for losses to rivals like Utah (nine straight until 2021) and a 4-9 2017 season. The 2017 staff overhaul, firing Detmer and others, was a gamble that took years to pay off, with the offense ranking 118th in scoring that year.
Big 12 Growing Pains
The 2023 season exposed roster depth issues, with BYU’s 82nd-ranked defense struggling against Big 12 speed. Sitake’s loyalty to coordinators like Ilaisa Tuiaki, who left for Oregon State in 2023, delayed adjustments. The transfer portal also hit hard in 2024, with Marion and Taggart among 12 departures, per Deseret News.
The Road Ahead
Sitake’s “long-term” extension, announced December 2024, signals stability, with his $3 million salary competitive in the Big 12, per EssentiallySports. The 2025 schedule, including Utah and Kansas State, tests BYU’s depth, but Retzlaff’s return (2,496 passing yards in 2024) and a top-40 recruiting class offer hope. If Sitake maintains his 45-18 pace, BYU could vie for a CFP berth by 2026.
The Verdict
Kalani Sitake’s era is a testament to resilience. From a 4-9 nadir to a 2024 Big 12 co-championship, he’s rebuilt BYU into a Power Five contender, with 72 wins, three 10-win seasons, and a culture that’s both fierce and faithful. Challenges—early losses, 2023’s stumble, and portal losses—haven’t derailed his vision. As he told BYU students in 2025, “Your highlights are coming.” For Cougar Nation, they’re already here, and Sitake’s just getting started.
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