How Kalani Sitake Transformed BYU Into a Winning Machine and Sparking Unstoppable Joy on the Field

There’s something downright electrifying about Kalani Sitake and his BYU Cougars that’s got everyone buzzing — is it some hidden trick, a celestial blessing, or just a bunch of guys genuinely enjoying the grind together? Well, scratch the surface, and you’ll find a team ranked seventh nationwide, cruising undefeated at 8-0, boasting 19 victories in their last 21 matchups, and riding a 10-game winning wave second only to Ohio State’s 12-game streak. Now, come Saturday, this powerhouse heads straight to Lubbock for a historic clash with No. 8 Texas Tech — a first-ever top-10 faceoff in BYU’s annals. With the Big 12 crown already in sight and players playing with heart and soul under a coach who embodies faith, authenticity, and unwavering commitment, Sitake’s impact resonates far beyond the scoreboard. It’s a story of joy, resilience, and a family-first culture that’s reshaping expectations at every turn. Curious how all the gears mesh so perfectly in Provo? Dive in and discover what makes BYU’s surge so special. LEARN MORE

What is it about Kalani Sitake and BYU wins? A secret sauce, some mystical metaphysical force? Luck? Or is it a natural result of a college squad just enjoying playing for each other?

No. 7-ranked BYU is 8-0. The Cougars have had 19 wins in the last 21 games and are on a 10-game win streak dating back to last season. Only Ohio State has a longer win streak at 12.

On Saturday, the Cougars head to Lubbock for a showdown with No. 8-ranked Texas Tech (7-1, 5-1), a game circled as the only contest between two top-10 teams this week, a first in BYU history.

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In 2025, BYU, the current Big 12 leader (5-0), has yet to play its best game, even a complete game. Yet, they join Ohio State, Texas A&M and Indiana as the country’s only remaining undefeated teams heading into Week 11 of the season.

The recently-released first CFP poll has BYU ranked No. 7 behind three SEC teams with one loss each. All three of those SEC teams are ranked lower in ESPN’s strength of record metric, a new factor considered by the CFP committee.

This is the kind of run Sitake’s mentor, LaVell Edwards, enjoyed back in the late ’70s and ’80s. Sitake has tried to emulate Edwards in every part of his program.

Like Edwards, Sitake is an outgoing, warm, caring person who ranks personal relationships as a priority. He genuinely cares about every person he meets and is very trusting.

It isn’t phony. It isn’t an act. It’s who he is.

And his attitude rubs off on those around him.

Why these wins?

His secret sauce is simpler than one would believe: His players are having fun. Kalani calls it the pillar of what sustains it all — joy.

He also says the success BYU is having is due to everyone else packing the load. “I don’t have to do this myself.”

Sitake is fortunate he has a team and recruits who buy into what he’s selling. BYU’s recruiting class for 2026 is currently ranked 22nd in the country by 247Sports.

One of the top tight ends in the country in the 2026 class, Pine View’s Brock Harris, put it this way: “I’ve been around him for four years. He is an amazing man and coach. He was a very big part of why I committed to BYU.”

“Kalani is the greatest example of just being Christ-like, just caring for people and loving people,” said senior receiver Chase Roberts, reflecting on Sitake’s recent BYU devotional speech, where he shared personal vulnerabilities.

“We just love knowing that our coach isn’t trying to act too cool or too tough,” said senior safety and captain Tanner Wall on Sitake’s authentic, approachable style.

BYU head coach Kalani Sitake and defensive end Viliami Po’Uha (45) sing the fight song with the team after a win over Iowa State Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, in Ames, Iowa. | AP

When asked why players buy in, defensive back Cannon DeVries praised Sitake’s relational approach to building a resilient secondary. “Leadership, a family-first culture, and the trust that fuels a tough defense. That’s why players buy in.

“This is a guy that I want to play for. Someone that respects my faith, someone that wants me to pursue my dreams and my goals. And honestly, I knew that BYU would just be a perfect spot for me to be able to continue to grow my faith and be supported and be around men of God and guys that want to be better than themselves,” DeVries said.

“We’re a team that knows how to win … (It’s) talent and toughness and togetherness,” explained senior defensive end Logan Lutui after the road win over Iowa State.

“It’s about so much more than football,” Roberts told reporters during Big 12 media day in July.

“After we knock the opponent down, we’re going to help them up. That’s the love and learn mentality that Coach Sitake talks about.”

— BYU receiver Chase Roberts

“When you come together as a team and put God and others first, then it rolls into the season and onto the field. People will see that as we play on the field with physicality,” said Roberts. “After we knock the opponent down, we’re going to help them up. That’s the love and learn mentality that coach Sitake talks about. It’s not soft, it’s more physical. I always think that the toughest guy to ever walk the earth was Jesus Christ. If we can emulate Him, then we’ll be the best team out there.”

“One thing that stood out to five-star 2026 quarterback commit Ryder Lyons and his family when visiting BYU is just how much fun players are having, even at practice,” said a Lyons family friend. “They loved Oregon and how Oregon had everything nailed down. But when Ryder visited BYU, things were not only nailed down but the players were having so much fun, it was a real contrast, something they didn’t see anywhere else.”

Sitake’s mantra is love and learn, stay hungry and humble. His theme is to seek joy.

Kekelaokalani Felipe Sitake

The nation’s first native Tongan major college football coach, Sitake was born in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, on Oct. 10, 1975. He was named by his uncle, Monty Sitake, who was attending BYU-Hawaii in Laie, Oahu, at the time. It is a traditional Tongan honor to have a relative name a child.

Monty named Kalani after the first native Hawaiian Christian minister, the Rev. James Kekelaokalani (May 22, 1824-Nov. 29, 1894). “I could have named him after me, but I chose that name and his middle name Felipe, from my maternal grandfather,” said Monty.

The breakdown of his name is Kekela- (brilliant, bright, sparkling) O ka- (of the) Lani (sky or heaven).

Kalani and his family moved from Tonga to Hawaii shortly after he was born. He has no memories of living in Tonga but his roots have followed him. Known as the Friendly Islands, Kalani has kindness and love forged into his DNA.

Chad Baldwin, left, of Pleasant Grove, and Tom Sitake, of Provo, hold a banner next to Sitake’s car before a game against Arizona held at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Family members joke among themselves that BYU and Kalani are winning because deceased grandfather Nafe, auntie Linette and his cousin April, who died in April, are supernaturally pulling strings from heaven.

Some BYU critics have accused the Cougars of just being lucky the past two seasons. Well, maybe it is this trio from beyond lending a break here and there.

Kalani’s parents divorced when he and his siblings were very young. His mother Va’e moved to Australia and his father Tomasi (Tom) moved with his kids from Laie, Oahu, Hawaii, to the mainland, settling in California, Missouri and then Utah. Tom comes from a family of 11 siblings and, in a minor miracle, all of them migrated to the United States.

For a time, Kalani lived with his uncle Monty’s family in Salt Lake City, where he grew up with his cousin, Fesi Sitake (current BYU passing coordinator). “Even back then, Kalani was a caring, loving kid, always looking out for his siblings, seeing that they had enough to eat and were OK,” said Monty.

Wins of all kinds

BYU wins have come in all styles. There are nailbiters, a double-overtime dramatic comeback, and fourth-quarter thrillers. A common theme has emerged. When a play is absolutely needed, players have delivered.

“They play 11-man football, horizontally and vertically across the field,” said Iowa State defensive coordinator John Heacock.

“You have a lot of talent, don’t get me wrong,” FS1’s “Wake Up Barstool” host Bobby Herbert told Sitake on a recent show. “But you are the ultimate sum of the whole; the whole is greater than the sum of its parts sort of a program, where every single year it seems like y’all overperform expectation. You play hard, everybody’s bought in. It’s mistake-free football. How have you managed that in Provo?”

BYU coach Kalani Sitake celebrates with his team after they beat Colorado 24-21 at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo., on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News

Sitake answered: “I think the key is just allowing these young men to be part of something bigger than just themselves. And when you just think about yourself as an individual, you can only go so far. Together we can accomplish a lot of great things. And we have to trust each other. That stuff is earned. It’s not just being given.”

During BYU’s 8-0 run this season, his team has proved invincible in the fourth quarter when bodies are tired and emotions frayed on both sides.

Big 12 insider John Kurtz spoke about BYU on ESPN 960 radio this past week, saying, “Winning by two scores at Iowa State? That’s legit. That was a well-rested Cyclone team coming off a bye, playing at home. Everything about that setup favored Iowa State. BYU went in and won anyway.

“They just have that ‘it’ factor. They pull games out of the fire. It’s the same thing they did last year — people doubted them after the Kansas loss, and they responded by finishing strong, crushing Colorado in the bowl, and winning 11 games. Now they’re 8–0 again. At some point, you just have to trust that this program knows how to win.”

Sitting in a lounge room just outside his office in the Student Office Building on Monday, I asked Sitake why his team rises up at the end of games.

“I think it’s a lot of things,” he said. “I think it’s the belief of it. There are probably a lot of different variables, but the ones that have a bigger piece of it is the guys have great leadership. They don’t give up. I’m able to view that from the players. I wish I could take credit for it. These guys are built like that. We have a long ways to go, a lot to do. I’m thankful I get to coach them. They are not complacent, they want to get better.”

Kalani’s magic

Since retiring from the Utah Department of State Rehabilitation, Tom Sitake can be seen almost everywhere his son Kalani goes. You see him on the sidelines on TV, a distinguished man in a hat, reflective sunglasses and a white mustache.

Tom says there is no magic with his son’s success.

“Kalani is just like all of us. We all have different upbringings, we have different blessings, capabilities, talents and that’s what makes us unique.

“First,” said his father, called Pops around the team, “Kalani is a very, very humble young man, very caring. He’s a disciple of Jesus Christ and he’s trying to be the best he can be as a husband, father and a coach. He loves BYU and he loves the support he’s getting from the administration, boosters and fans. He believes in his coaches and players, that they work together as a team.”

Tom said at a very young age, Kalani was protective of his siblings, especially his two younger sisters. “Whenever I was at work, working graveyard shifts and not home, I could count on him. He was never a troublemaker. He always made sure others ate before he did, same with his cousins. At football camps, he never cut in line when they served food. He always was polite when he spoke. If someone cut in line, he’d kindly ask them to let others go in front.”

While attending elementary school in Utah, Kalani came home one day with a bloody nose. Tom asked what happened and his son said he got in a fight and lost. He didn’t tell his father the other kid was older and in a different grade and was a known bully.

Tom, a former boxer, was concerned. He’d taught all his kids to stand up for themselves. He’d shown them how to defend themselves, ward off blows and dish it out if needed. It bugged him that Kalani lost a fight.

“What technique did you use?” Tom asked. “Did you have your hands up?”

Kalani explained the other kid just overpowered him.

Tom took the time to show Kalani how to counterpunch, go for the body, to use an uppercut and hooks, and get in position to win a fight. He had a punching bag in the house. “I think it was therapeutic in a lot of ways, coming from a broken home.”

The next day, Kalani went back to school. This time, he won the fight. “I don’t think anybody at school wanted to fight me again,” he said.

Kalani Sitake (center) poses with his family after press conference at BYUtv’s Studio C. | Brandon Judd, Deseret News

Kalani got called into the principal’s office and was asked what happened. Tom was called in and was very upset. Kalani explained he was fighting a bully and the principal told him he was now the bully.

“We’re trying to stop all the bullies,” he said.

Tom quickly answered back, “He bullies the bullies, which is perfectly fine with me.”

In time, Kalani gave his predicament a lot of thought.

“Maybe this isn’t a good way to go about things. Maybe the best lessons aren’t learned by being physical. So I learned at a very young age that there are other ways to process these situations, that this way, I might run into someone who can actually fight better than me.”

It was at this time, in the sixth grade, when he realized he had to lean back on something else, when the gospel of Jesus Christ became prevalent in his life.

“I started to realize that, man, Christ is the perfect type of man who walked the Earth and he didn’t have to always fight. The thing is, my father became closer to the gospel around that same time. And it all shifted.”

LaVell’s way

The legendary Edwards may not have known it, but his way of doing things aligns with a book written by Daniel Pink, entitled “Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us.”

The book centers on giving autonomy, mastery of a task and having purpose greater than one’s self.

BYU’s newest head football coach Kalani Sitake talks briefly with former head coach LaVell Edwards following a press conference in Provo Monday, Dec. 21, 2015. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

“I think that’s what LaVell did naturally,” said Kalani. “He was so good at that. He gave autonomy, allowed his coaches to do their jobs, there was always a sense of mastery by players, and there was always a purpose behind it.”

By studying what Edwards did, Kalani discovered quickly that he didn’t have to do it alone.

“Football is interesting. I know it means everything to a lot of people. It can’t mean everything to us. It’s just got to be something that enhances our lives and that’s hard to say for a guy whose livelihood depends on victories, but I feel like LaVell did that, and I feel the same.”

— Kalani Sitake

“It’s probably one of the biggest things that I have. It’s weird. If I’m the one who has to come up with all the answers, its probably not going to be the best answer. But if I can depend on a group of people who have been given the autonomy and the mastery and the purpose, then there shouldn’t be really anything that doesn’t get taken care of.

“Football is interesting. I know it means everything to a lot of people. It can’t mean everything to us. It’s just got to be something that enhances our lives and that’s hard to say for a guy whose livelihood depends on victories, but I feel like LaVell did that, and I feel the same. I can try to do it.”

This where Kalani’s humility shines.

He reflected on the days coaching junior college football in Arizona, when the team made a road trip from Thatcher to Rexburg, Idaho, buying cases of water from Costco for the trip and having no cellphones to watch movies on while they traveled.

He remembers a time while coaching at Southern Utah. He and his current offensive coordinator, Aaron Roderick, had to paint the stripes on the football field, set out the cones for the end zone, bring out all the equipment, the chains and yard markers, and do all kinds of jobs as part of the duties.

“If the lines were crooked, it was on me,” he said.

Today, he knows so many people work very hard to make a practice or game happen at BYU, and all of their jobs are important to the success of the day. He realizes he cannot do what he does by himself. And he remembers those who have a part.

Sitake knows what it takes to make a straight line on a field.

“It is inappropriate for me to take credit for a win. There are a lot of unsung heroes out there who nobody knows, who contribute.”

BYU coach Kalani Sitake, center, is flanked by offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick, left, and defensive coordinator Jay Hill. | Brigham Young University

This week, Roderick praised Sitake for his approach in preparing the Cougars for the school’s first-ever matchup between two top-10-ranked teams when BYU meets Texas Tech in Lubbock.

“Kalani really preaches what he calls the low-hanging fruit of getting sleep and nutrition and taking care of your body and doing the right things. I think our guys have been using the time the right way.”

In 2022, Roderick told the Deseret News he placed Sitake alongside his grandfather and coach Edwards as a profound mentor. “I think Kalani is one of the most influential people I’ve ever known. He inspires me to work hard.

“Kalani is brilliant. He’s really smart and he knows what he’s doing. He’s not just a cheerleading heart and soul culture guy. He executes his plan to perfection and I’m really, really fortunate to work with him,” said Roderick.

“He just has a gift for connecting with people, for making them believe in themselves. I think the most important thing we can do as coaches is to give our players confidence and the tools that they need to be successful.”

Roderick calls Sitake the Ted Lasso of college football coaches.

“He’s so positive all the time. Our players love playing for him and coming in the building every day. Practice is fun and meetings are fun. He’s created such a fun environment to play and coach in.”

Culture eats strategy

Paul Gustavson, a former offensive lineman in Edwards’ early days, is an organizational behavior expert who works with some of the world’s top corporations and advised both Bronco Mendenhall and Tom Holmoe when they were at BYU. He sees Sitake’s effective style taking hold the past two seasons.

“Arguably one the greatest management consultants in my lifetime was Peter Drucker,” said Gustavson. “He is credited with teaching the importance of managing by objectives. He is also credited with saying, ‘Culture eats strategy for breakfast.’ This means that brilliant strategy can’t succeed if the company culture doesn’t support it, leading to poor execution and ultimately failing to achieve goals.”

Gustavson listens to what Sitake says after games and to the press, and what his players say he teaches them.

“The cultural attributes that seem to resonate with Kalani are: love, have fun, stay humble, always learn, stay hungry, have purpose, mastery and autonomy, all in Pink’s book.

“Kalani understands, lives and teaches the importance of culture. He attributes this to his upbringing and his time with LaVell. He resonates the culture he believes and attracts coaches and players who likewise endorse and want to live these cultural attributes.”

This week, Sitake knows the outside is hyping up the game with Texas Tech, an undefeated season and national rankings, but his focus has to be on preparing his team one fundamental principal, technique and strategy at a time. He can’t weigh everything and put it on himself, staff and players if they don’t master the basics of blocking, tackling, catching, kicking and passing.

He told his team they need to go about their work for the trip to Lubbock with joy — to do their best and live with the results.

Before the victory at Iowa State, Sitake rolled out a quote by the late Latter-day Saint President Russell M. Nelson:

“Joy has very little to do with the circumstances in your life, it has everything to do with the focus in your life.”

“I thought that was amazing. I wrote that down and told the team, ‘OK, let’s go have some focused fun. Let’s go actually have some fun.’”