BYU Coach Makes Concerning Comment About Situation With Program

In December, Kalani Sitake seemed poised to join Penn State, but ultimately opted to remain with his former school, BYU. The university reportedly raised Sitake's compensation and pledged to expand the football team's budget. On July 30, Sitake shared his thoughts with Ben Criddle of Cougar Sports about BYU's investment in the program.

He argued that it doesn't require much for the Cougars to become more competitive, suggesting that the school could achieve more than merely paying players to secure a College Football Playoff spot. The Cougars concluded the regular season with a No. 12 ranking and an 11-2 record, yet they did not receive an at-large bid for the CFP.

During a recent practice, reporters quizzed Sitake on his perception of the resources available to him at BYU. Sitake responded, "My agent is going to handle all of that stuff," during a video interview with Deseret News. He emphasized his focus on the current team and his determination to make BYU a premier program, stating, "I feel like the players deserve that, the coaches and staff deserve it, and most importantly, Cougar Nation deserves it."

It might have instilled more confidence in the program if Sitake had expressed satisfaction with the resources during his conversation. Even if he had mentioned collaboration with the administration, it would have been more reassuring than claiming his agent would manage those matters. During his interview with Criddle, Sitake mentioned that his agent pointed out that other programs possess superior resources compared to BYU.

At times, Sitake acknowledged that things are going well, but his agent informed him that the benefits enjoyed by other teams are standard practice. This raises concerns about whether Sitake and his agent might explore the job market during the coaching carousel this season if BYU fails to provide the resources Sitake believes are necessary for the Big 12 program.