Provo • BYU head coach Kalani Sitake has been on both sides of the state’s biggest rivalry.
And he’s seen plenty of Utah coach Kyle Whittingham along the way.
Sitake watched Whittingham play middle linebacker for BYU when he was just a fan at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Whittingham then became his boss when Sitake was the defensive coordinator at Utah. And when Sitake became BYU’s head coach, he went head-to-head with Whittingham as equals.
So as Whittingham potentially nears retirement, Sitake thinks a special honor should be reserved for the 66-year-old.
A spot in the Hall of Fame, at both BYU and Utah.
“He’s done some amazing things for football in this state. He’s probably one of the few guys that can be in the Hall of Fame at both schools,” Sitake said. “He played for BYU. And with his playing days, he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. If there’s anyone that deserves that attention [at both schools] it’s him.”
Whittingham has spent over two decades as Utah’s head coach. But he said he would not coach past 65.
He needs to inform the University of Utah within the next week if he intends to return. Whittingham thought 2024 would be his final season, but opted to come back after the Utes went 5-7 in their first Big 12 campaign.
“I know that if he decides that it’s time for him to hang it up, he’s going to do something with football,” Sitake said. “He just can’t help it. There’s people like myself, and a lot of guys on our coaching staff, that would not be where we are without him.”
As for Sitake’s prediction as to whether Whittingham will step away, he deferred. Utah is 10-2 and will head to a bowl game in December.
“He’s always been a friend, and that’s always going to be there,” Sitake said. “You know, [Utes coach in waiting] Morgan Scalley is a friend of mine, too. So I can’t really speak on what they have going on there. But they’ve had a great year.”
But Sitake added that Whittingham’s golf game is in the right place if he were to retire today.
“He’s much better at golf now, and I know he’s always going to ski,” Sitake joked. “He’s got a couple of Harleys he likes to ride around. But I just can’t imagine him not being around football.”