Kalani Sitake’s Job Isn’t At Risk As Some Might Think

According to one sportsbook, Kalani Sitake might be among the first coaches sacked.

College football is almost around the corner. BYU is coming off a difficult 2023 season that included a five-game losing streak to finish 5-7. Losing seasons are uncommon in BYU football history, and the pressure to return to bowl eligibility in 2024 is top of mind for the program. According to one sportsbook, Kalani Sitake’s seat is one of the most popular in the Power Four conferences.

BetOnline has posted the chances for the first college football coach to be sacked in 2024. Sitake ranked sixth on the list, with 10/1 odds.

Odds on the first college football coach to be fired from @BetOnline_ag pic.twitter.com/xW1qCgQMuy

— Barrett Sallee 🇺🇸 (@BarrettSallee) July 24, 2024

Is Kalani’s Seat Actually Hot?

Is Kalani Sitake’s seat hot enough for a midseason firing?

The short answer is: no. The lengthy response provides a little more context.

BYU is distinct from the other Power Four colleges. They are slower to hire, slower to fire, and more inclined to let a coach a few years to acclimate to new circumstances. They are extremely unlikely to fire a coach with Kalani’s term in the middle of the season.

BYU’s transition to the Big 12 was expected to be difficult, and it occurred in 2023. BYU lacked the necessary athleticism, depth, and physicality to challenge for the Big 12 championship. Those deficiencies are being addressed through the recruiting process.

Kalani Sitake has done an excellent job as BYU football coach, and AD Tom Holmoe has put his trust in him. It would take a lot, most likely a 3-9 or 4-8 season, for Kalani’s seat to be competitive. If Sitake can make modest improvements and return to 6-6 in 2024, he will be BYU’s head coach for the foreseeable future. Even a 5-7 record would likely suffice if BYU is more competitive throughout the season. If anything, BYU would switch coordinators before changing head coaches.

BYU had a front-row seat for Utah’s transition to the Pac-12. During that period, the Utes had back-to-back 5-7 seasons, and BYU anticipates similar obstacles in their move to the Big 12. These adjustments need patience, especially at BYU, where some of their top recruits leave to serve missions before enrolling.

Even though Kalani’s seat isn’t as competitive as some believe, he still needs to improve in 2024. Trajectories are crucial. Think about the 2018 season. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a step in the right direction following a disastrous 2017 season. Make no mistake, BYU wants to win. The hiring of Kevin Young is evidence of BYU’s determination to win the Big 12. Kalani will be given the benefit of the doubt because of his 2020-2021 tenure as BYU’s head coach, but BYU must be better in 2024 than they were in 2023.