This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Utah Utes gave defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake a huge raise before the 2012 season in an effort to keep him with the program. Now they might find out if $500,000 is enough to keep him with the Utes. The Salt Lake Tribune confirmed that Sitake is interested in the head coaching position at Utah State to replace Gary Andersen, who is leaving the school to become the head coach at Wisconsin. Utah State officials have been in touch with Sitake's agent, the Tribune confirmed. Sitake's salary was doubled to $500,000 in January when he was promoted to assistant head coach, making him the highest paid assistant coach on the staff. Offensive coordinator Brian Johnson and running backs coach are the next highest paid coaches with salaries of $225,000. Sitake has been with the Utes for eight seasons and is regarded as not only one of Utah's best coaches but also one of the Utes' top recruiters with Los Angeles, Utah and Florida being his priority areas. Sitake joined the Utes in 2005 as the linebackers coach and was promoted to defensive coordinator when Andersen left to become Utah State's head coach. Utah State offensive coordinator Matt Wells interviewed for the Utah State position on Wednesday. Utah's defensive line coach, Chad Kauha'aha'a, may join Andersen at Wisconsin. He coached Utah State's defensive line in 2009-10. - Lya Wodraska