BYU coach Kalani Sitake smiles earlier than talking throughout the Huge 12 school soccer media days in Arlington, Texas, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. LM Otero, AP
ARLINGTON, Texas — BYU soccer coach Kalani Sitake knew from the minute he walked into AT&T Stadium on Wednesday morning on the Huge 12 soccer media days that he was in his factor.
“ me, I like hanging out with individuals, guys. Come on,” Sitake stated. “After I first walked in right here, I used to be like, ‘yeah, that is actually cool.’ I simply need everyone to really feel the eagerness and pleasure I've to be right here. This a very cool second for me.”
“This has been a dream for me, so please don’t wake me up.” — BYU soccer coach Kalani Sitake at Huge 12 soccer media days.
Whereas on the large stage Wednesday afternoon, Sitake moved seamlessly from joking round about meals and his waistline to reflections on how his program works exhausting to symbolize the values of its sponsoring establishment, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
BYU’s eighth-year coach even had some hardened and longtime Huge 12 reporters chuckling at his self-deprecating fashion and real demeanor.
When there was a break within the questions from the group, he joked that everyone have to be hungry like he was. Later, to a smaller gathering of reporters, he talked about wanting to purchase dinner for everybody and “use my BYU (credit score) card” to pay for it.
He talked about his favourite ice cream taste (rocky street), his newfound appreciation for pistachio ice cream, and far more that had little to do with soccer however allowed his persona to shine by way of.
“I like protein and carbs,” he stated. “That’s the way you get this physique, consuming a whole lot of carbs. That’s the place I'm going (for meals). … Provo’s altitude is hard, for a jogger. You possibly can inform I don’t jog fairly often.”
And on it went.
“This has been a dream for me, so please don’t wake me up,” he stated. “I'm having fun with it. We're within the Huge 12 now, and I'm excited for everybody to get to satisfy our fan base and see how they’ve been a energy for us and our program and undoubtedly a energy for me as a head coach.”
Berry Tramel, longtime columnist for the Oklahoman, stated he turned instantaneous buddies with Sitake when he visited Provo a yr in the past for a sequence of articles on the Huge 12 newcomers.
“I believed he was utterly charming. Affable is the way in which I see him. I feel that can play nicely,” within the Huge 12, Tramel advised the Deseret Information. “Now, the league has every kind of various coaches. (Mike) Gundy is kind of a wise-(man). And (Steve) Sarkisian is simply so critical. (Dave) Aranda is all cerebral. Sonny Dykes is kind of folksy.
“However I feel simply the affability of Kalani goes to work nice,” Tramel continued. “He’s simply so all the way down to earth and personable. And if that doesn’t resonate with individuals in Texas and Oklahoma, I don’t know what is going to.”
Sitake opened his tackle by mentioning that he sought pointers and suggestions from new BYU beginning quarterback Kedon Slovis, who was at USC and Pitt earlier than transferring to BYU.
“He’s been by way of extra media days than I've,” Sitake quipped, drawing laughter.
Later, he talked about how BYU offers free ice cream to opposing followers at LaVell Edwards Stadium earlier than the fourth quarter begins, then prompt they lengthen that courtesy to the coaches.
“However it's a totally different expertise (in Provo),” he stated. “And the sweetness from the followers matches what you’re seeing within the panorama, the mountains and every part.”
Together with Slovis, BYU additionally introduced punter Ryan Rehkow, linebacker Ben Bywater, defensive finish Tyler Batty and receiver Kody Epps to the occasion. All 5 stated Sitake was in his factor the minute they landed of their constitution jet.
“For positive, man, he’s a silver tongue, man. He's butter clean when he's speaking to guys,” Bywater stated. “I feel he’s doing precisely what he needs to be doing. He’s actually good with individuals, he’s heat. That man is nearly as good because it will get.”
Slovis stated that he, Epps, Sitake and BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe went out for ice cream Tuesday evening, and marveled at how uncommon, however satisfying, that was. In fact, Slovis as soon as famously needled Provo and BYU followers for that sort of stuff, however stated he’s realized it's actual and real.
“Kalani is such an ideal human, and the way in which he goes about life is (inspiring), as a result of he's so humble,” Slovis stated. “I wouldn’t need to play for every other kind of coach. He’s superior.
“We're getting ice cream final evening, and I'm like, ‘if I used to be at one other faculty, this is likely to be too hokey.’ I wouldn’t be allowed to be in the identical automobile as them,” Slovis continued. “However me and Kody had been simply chilling with them. They're tremendous laid again and tremendous comfy. I like these guys.”
Rehkow, the one specialist among the many dozens of gamers who both spoke Wednesday or will communicate Thursday when the occasion continues with seven extra groups getting their turns to speak, stated Sitake can flourish in any factor — one-on-one in his workplace, at dwelling together with his household, or on the large stage at a Energy 5 convention’s media day.
“Kalani loves simply taking issues in, going with the circulation. He doesn’t want the large stage for him to be himself. I feel the large stage permits individuals to see how unbelievable of a coach and an individual that he's,” Rehkow stated. “For us, once we see him answering questions and joking and all that stuff, we like it. We might exit and pour our hearts on the sector for that man. It's enjoyable for us to see different individuals see that in him.”