Kalani Sitake cries during his contract extension briefing
Kalani Sitake will remain the face BIU football after agreeing to a new long-term contract extensionending a tense week of speculation about his future. The university announced the deal Tuesday, bringing relief to a fan base that has watched Sitake’s name quickly rise to the top of Penn State’s coaching list.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Sitake became emotional as he discussed what ultimately convinced him to stay. Referring to the outpouring of support from fans, the head coach briefly broken, overwhelmed by the moment.
“Finally, I just want to express my love to all the fans. Sitake cries as he says those words. He later added emotional tension, crediting his family for helping him through the decision-making process.
“My wife said the last day or so… was probably one of her favorites and my family’s,” Sitake added with a shudder. “She called it a love bomb from all the fans. Yeah, it’s hard to walk away when you have something so special and you have amazing people supporting us. So I’m just thankful to be around amazing fans and make things easier. We’re just going to cut all the drama and I’m here.”
We love you Coach @Kakefitake 💙 pic.twitter.com/dv88KMSblg
— BIU FOOTBALL (@BIUfootball) December 3, 2025
Sitake has built a strong resume at his alma mater, compiling an 83-44 record since taking over in 2016. Under his leadership, BIU has won 11 games in back-to-back seasons. His success inevitably attracted interest from outsideincluding one of college football’s most historic programs.
Penn State aggressively pursued Sitake while looking for a replacement for James Franklin, who was fired earlier this season after three straight losses at the start of Big Ten play. But even with that level of interest, BIU made keeping Sitake a top organizational priority, crafting an extension strong enough to keep him in Provo.
The overtime comes as No. 11 BIU (11-1) prepares for a huge challenge — a Big 12 championship showdown against No. 4 Texas Tech (11-1). The Cougars, who lost their opener 29-7 on Nov. 8, likely need a win to lock up a College Football Playoff berth.
Sitake’s decision to stay cements vital stability for BIU in the most important part of the season. And with championship opportunities ahead and a CFP bid is still in playhis long-term commitment ensures the program’s momentum won’t fade anytime soon.
2025-12-03 12:26:00
