BYU head coach Kalani Sitake yells to the gang upon getting into the sector at Autzen Stadium in Eugene on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Information
BYU coach Kalani Sitake was talked about by a pair of well-known nationwide media shops as a possible candidate to exchange Herm Edwards as Arizona State’s coach.
Edwards was fired by ASU Sunday, the day after the Solar Devils misplaced to MAC program Jap Michigan.
Each ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg and The Athletic’s Chris Vannini included Sitake on their listing of attainable candidates to take over for Edwards in Tempe, Arizona.
Sitake, who’s led the Cougars to High 25 finishes and double-digit wins every of the previous two seasons, agreed to a “new, unprecedented” contract extension with BYU final December that may preserve him on the faculty via the 2027 season.
He has guided BYU to a 50-30 report since taking up this system within the 2016 season. Sitake has the Cougars out to a 2-1 report this season — BYU was ranked No. 12 earlier than dropping to Oregon 41-20 on Saturday.
BYU is ready to affix the Large 12 subsequent summer season, opening a brand new period of Energy 5 inclusion for the Cougars.
“Earlier than the Large 12 added BYU, Sitake actually would have a look at a job like Arizona State as an apparent improve. Now it’s not as clear-cut,” Rittenberg wrote. “BYU has rewarded Sitake with extra wage and safety, and the Cougars’ program is rolling because it nears entry into the Large 12 in 2023.
“Sitake, 46, can be an absolute steal for ASU. He’s 23-5 because the begin of the 2020 season and would convey a tough-minded id and stability to this system that followers would respect. Sitake additionally has recruited the area for his whole profession.”
It’s not the primary time Sitake’s identify has been talked about when a Energy 5 teaching job has opened — final yr, Sitake reportedly talked to Oregon about its head teaching emptiness earlier than the Geese in the end selected Dan Lanning as their new head coach.
“BYU head coach Kalani Sitake has been within the combine for different Pac-12 jobs in recent times. He’s 23-5 prior to now two-plus seasons and turned the Cougars again right into a High 25 program. However he simply signed a long-term extension final December, and BYU heads to the Large 12 subsequent season. He’d be a robust rent for ASU, however is he even ?” Vannini requested.
Edwards took over at Arizona State in 2018 and the Solar Devils went 25-18 below the previous longtime NFL coach, with three bowl appearances (1-2 report).
This system has been overshadowed over the previous yr, although, by an ongoing NCAA investigation that ASU hosted recruits in the course of the recruiting lifeless interval from March 2020 to June 2021 that took place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Edwards is the second Energy 5 coach to be fired thus far within the 2022 season, becoming a member of Nebraska’s Scott Frost.
Is Utah State’s Blake Anderson a candidate for the Arizona State coach job?
Sitake wasn’t the one Utah tie being talked about as a attainable candidate for ASU’s teaching emptiness.
Each Vannini and Rittenberg introduced up Utah State second-year coach Blake Anderson. Anderson led Utah State to its first Mountain West Convention championship final season, in addition to a bowl win over Oregon State, after a profitable stint as Arkansas State’s coach.
The Aggies are off to a 1-2 begin to the season, although, together with a loss to Weber State per week in the past.
“Would he go away in his second season? He’s eyed Energy 5 jobs,” Vannini wrote.
“The Aggies’ 1-2 begin doesn’t assist, and Anderson doubtless would want to show issues round with a troublesome highway forward. However a Mountain West championship and a No. 24 AP end in 2021 ought to assist Anderson, 53, who's 63-42 as an FBS coach at Arkansas State and Utah State,” Rittenberg wrote.
“... ASU won't have many choices with Anderson’s credentials and expertise as a head coach.”
What different Utah ties are being talked about for the Arizona State coach job?
Different Utah ties talked about for the emptiness by nationwide specialists embody former BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall, former Utah assistant Dan Mullen and former BYU offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes.
On Mendenhall: “He’s a defensive coach, however Virginia had one of the explosive passing offenses within the nation in his closing years. He stepped away from Virginia on his personal however made certain to say it wasn’t a retirement,” Vannini wrote.
On Mullen: “Arizona State wants an id. Mullen, along with his offensive chops, can be that id. Sure, he’s quirky. Perhaps greater than that. However as presently structured, Mullen might win the Pac-12. Quickly,” wrote CBS Sports activities’ Dennis Dodd.
On Grimes: “Grimes, 53, spent three seasons as Arizona State’s offensive line coach early in his profession and labored within the area at each Colorado and BYU. He’s a superb line coach who has grown into the playcalling function and must be prepared to steer his personal program quickly,” Rittenberg wrote.