BYU head coach Kalani Sitake was reportedly Penn State's top target to replace James Franklin as head coach. (Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images)
New head coach Matt Campbell has already hit the ground running on the recruiting trail, and resetting the culture inside the Lasch Building less than six months after being hired as Penn State Football head coach. However, he very nearly never made it to Happy Valley at all.
There is little question that Athletic Director Pat kraft, and the administration at Penn State are thrilled to have Campbell at the helm of the Nittany Lions.
However, Campbell is in State College, largely, because BYU head coach Kalani Sitake couldn’t bring himself to cross the finish line and leave Provo.
‘It Got Real Quickly’ Kalani Sitake opens up on Penn State Coaching Search
Sitake recently sat down with Pete Nakos of On3 for a wide ranging interview, including revealing just how close he came to trading in his Cougars polos for Nittany Lions gear.
“It got real quickly after people started to find out about it,” Sitake told Nakos. “The decision-making process had to happen almost overnight. Looking at what Penn State was doing and what they were trying to offer, I had to decide what I wanted and what I considered compensation for me and what I was chasing.”
Upon hiring Campbell, Kraft pledged that the mission was to elevate Penn State to the kind of program that can consistently compete for — and win National Championships.
The Regional Roadblock: Why Geography and Recruiting Foils Broke the Deal
Despite going deep into negotiations, Sitake says that there was one major roadblock that he couldn’t get past when he was deciding whether to make the move.
“Honestly, there’s nothing against Penn State,” Sitake told On3. “They’re a fine institution. They got the right guy in Matt Campbell. I have tons of respect for their fans and the people there. I just don’t know much about the area and recruiting there.”
Ultimately, college football’s … and Penn State’s chaotic coaching carousel worked precisely out the way it was intended for the hierarchy in State College.
While Sitake preferred the comfortable, deeply rooted culture he has meticulously built in Provo, Penn State secured an elite developer in Campbell, a relentless program builder who doesn’t just understand the regional footprint, but is actively reshaping the program to chase national championships.
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Lombardo is the founder, editor, and lead National NFL Reporter for Between The Hashmarks, and an on-air sports contributor for FOX 29 in Philadelphia.
Lombardo has a deeply rooted passion for Penn State sports, including as a season ticket holder for Penn State Football.
Lombardo applies his journalistic instincts and relentless drive to guide the NittanyCentral staff to deliver the content readers are searching for.
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