Sources: BYU coach Sitake focus of PSU search

The Penn State coaching search, which has gone quiet in the past few weeks, has focused on BYU coach Kalani Sitake, sources told ESPN on Monday.

The sides have been in discussions, but sources cautioned that no deal has been signed yet. The sides have met, and there is mutual interest, with discussions involving staffing and other details of Sitake's possible tenure in State College.

No. 11 BYU plays Saturday against No. 5 Texas Tech in the Big 12 title game, with the winner securing an automatic bid in the College Football Playoff. On3 first reported Sitake as Penn State's top target.

Sitake has been BYU's coach since 2016, winning more than 65% of his games. He guided BYU to an 11-2 mark in 2024, and the Cougars are 11-1 this year. This is BYU's third season in the Big 12, and the transition to becoming one of the league's top teams has been nearly instant.

Penn State officials were active early in their coaching search, which included numerous in-person meetings around the country. That activity has quieted in recent weeks, sources said, even as candidates got new jobs and others received new contracts to stay at their schools.

BYU officials have been aggressive in trying to retain Sitake, according to sources, and consider it the athletic department's top priority.

BYU plays a style that's familiar to the Big Ten, with rugged linemen and a power game that's complemented by a creative passing offense in recent years.

This week, Sitake called the reports linking him to jobs "a good sign" because it means "things are going well for us."

James Franklin was fired by Penn State in October after going 104-45 over 12 seasons. Franklin's departure came after three straight losses to open league play. He led Penn State to the College Football Playoff semifinals in January 2025.

Sitake has won at least 10 games in four of his past six seasons at BYU. After going 2-7 in conference play while adjusting to the Big 12 in 2023, BYU has gone 15-3 the past two years and found a quarterback of the future in true freshman Bear Bachmeier.

Sitake has no coaching experience east of the Mountain Time Zone. He was an assistant coach at BYU, Oregon State, Utah, Southern Utah and Eastern Arizona.

Sitake, who played high school football in Missouri, played at BYU before signing with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2001.

He is BYU's fourth head coach since his mentor, LaVell Edwards, took over in 1972.