Report: Kalani Sitake planning to stay at BYU

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It appears the Kalani Sitake saga is nearing an end.

Sitake “has begun to inform people that he intends to stay” at BYU, according to a Tuesday report from Pete Thamel of ESPN.

Sources: BYU coach Kalani Sitake has begun to inform people that he intends to stay at the school. BYU is in the process of putting together a lucrative contract to keep him. He’s been one of main targets at Penn State, which he informed of his decision today. pic.twitter.com/S76gHey7Ag

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 2, 2025

This report comes as Sitake’s name was linked to Penn State’s head coaching vacancy, with multiple national outlets reporting Monday that Sitake was the Nittany Lions’ “top target” and “focus” of their coaching search.

But after negotiations with both Penn State and BYU, Sitake will instead remain with the Provo program he once played for and has now piloted for the past decade.

Since taking over for Bronco Mendenhall in 2015, Sitake has posted an 83-44 record at BYU with four 10-win seasons and five bowl victories, including last year’s 36-14 Alamo Bowl blowout of Colorado.

Additionally, the Cougars have had three ranked finishes under Sitake, with 2025 likely to be the fourth.

Sitake is the third-winningest head coach in school history, only trailing the legendary LaVell Edwards, who Sitake played for as a fullback and team captain, and Mendenhall.

Since joining the Big 12 Conference in 2023, Sitake has led BYU to a 27-10 record, including a 22-3 stretch over the past two campaigns.

With Sitake’s status now seemingly firm, BYU will head to Arlington, Texas, to face Texas Tech in the Big 12 championship game this Saturday, where a College Football Playoff berth is on the line for the Cougars.

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