Story thread · 2 reports / 2 sources

Kalani Sitake built BYU’s success on culture, relationships and persistence. Now, he needs the resources promised

deseret.com · 14h · first reportShare

Kalani Sitake has spent the better part of a decade proving that culture, relationships and quiet persistence can still win in college football. Over the past two seasons, those qualities helped deliver 23 victories and a preseason Top-15 ranking for 2026. What makes the run remarkable is how much of it was achieved while Sitake was repeatedly asked — and often told — to do more with less. From the day he arrived, Sitake set out to assemble a staff that understood BYU’s unique demands. He wanted Sione Po’uha immediately and has continued to add coaches almost exclusively through former teammates, players and trusted connections who already grasped the program’s culture. The latest wave — Jay Hill as defensive coordinator, Kelly Poppinga, Justin Ena, veteran offensive-line coach TJ Woods and an NFL-experienced tight-ends coach — has sharpened game preparation, teaching and consistency. He’s now shifted gears by elevating Poppinga while keeping his offensive staff in place. Culture remai