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SALT LAKE CITY — Not even a costly pandemic can prevent college athletic programs from tossing around millions of dollars in the name of winning football games.
Whatever it takes to get them, many universities across the country are opening the bank trying to lure the hottest coaches in college football. Too bad for those administrations — possibly at BYU? — not willing to match or exceed the big-money offers that are expected to roll in for new gotta-have coach.
Truth is, BYU should shower coach Kalani Sitake with more love. Never forget money talks.
Don't think Sitake didn't take notice that BYU gave basketball coach Mark Pope a long-term contract after last season, his first as the head coach at the school. In dramatic fashion in the locker room after a game last season, athletic director Tom Holmoe announced an extension for Sitake that runs through the 2023 season, but he may need to offer more years and cash to rebuff Arizona's potential interest.
Delayed a week or two due to the regular season extending longer than usual, the coaching carousel in football has begun in earnest as athletic directors fire coaches. Expensive buyouts be darned, nothing will keep these programs from trying to hire new coaches with the hope the latest will make the difference.
After eight seasons, which included an appearance in the national championship game in 2013, Auburn fired Gus Malzahn on Sunday. No matter that Malzahn is owed $21.7 million, half of which is due in the next month.
Less than 24 hours after losing its rivalry game to Arizona State by a whopping 63 points, Arizona canned Kevin Sumlin, whose team was 0-5 and mired in a 12-game losing streak; he will receive $7.5 million as a goodbye gift.
Texas Tech boosters reportedly already are disenchanted with Matt Wells, who barely has had enough time to completely unpack after leaving Utah State following an 11-2 season in 2018. Wells, who has a $9 million buyout, has gone 4-8 and 4-6 for a program that hasn't had a winning record since star NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes was part of a 7-6 team in 2015.
Immediately upon Sumlin's expected dismissal, Sitake and Weber State's Jay Hill were linked as candidates at Arizona. In particular, it makes sense for the Pac-12 program to have interest in bringing Sitake to Tucson.
The fifth-year coach has enjoyed a breakout season at his alma mater, where he played for the legendary LaVell Edwards. Reeling off nine consecutive wins, the nationally ranked Cougars are 10-1 with the impending Boca Raton Bowl against Central Florida.
Sitake checks several boxes that Arizona is looking for in a dynamic head coach. Instead of going with a fired retread, as it did three times in the last 20 years with John Mackovic, Rich Rodriguez and Sumlin, Arizona might prefer hiring a coach coming off success rather than failure.
Sumlin was a disaster well beyond his 9-15 record. In a matter of weeks, he alienated the local media and fan base with an aloof nature, something that won't happen with the warm and perpetually welcoming Sitake.
The affable Sitake has experience in the Pac-12, having served as the defensive coordinator at Utah and Oregon State. He also brings extensive recruiting connections in the West, which no head coach at Arizona brought to the program since Dick Tomey was there more than 20 years ago.
A professed BYU fan growing up, Sitake might have a hard time leaving comfortable surroundings and all the recruits he has brought into the program. But at the same time, a considerable raise speaks loudly.
And as we know, to the point of practically taking pride in it, BYU steadfastly refuses to engage in any kind of a bidding war. The pandemic also has created a financial crisis, to the point of Holmoe releasing a video asking for help in making up the department's losses of $20 million this year.
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