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PROVO — Kalani Sitake recently wrapped up his first spring practices as BYU’s 14th head football coach in program history.
But a man’s got to eat, and he showed it during a sit-down with KSL TV at Legend’s Grill on campus. The longtime defensive specialist opened up during lunch about his allergic reaction to salad, his love of cooking, and taking over the football program at his alma mater.
Click the video above for the full interview.
Sitake became the first native Tongan head coach in Football Bowl Subdivision history when he accepted the job at his alma mater in December. While he’s certainly proud of his heritage, he admits to feeling conflicted over the significance of the factoid.
“I am really proud of my heritage and really proud of where I come from,” Sitake said. “But more than anything, I just want to be known as a good person — more than my ethnicity.
“Identity should be based on what is in their heart, not necessarily where they are born or what country they come from.”
During lunch, Sitake was regularly interrupted by numerous people. He looks current players in the eye, makes them feel important — and even asks about their personal life, which at BYU means inquiring to their relationship status, much like his old coach LaVell Edwards would do.
“When I got the job, LaVell Edwards told me to just be myself,” Sitake said. “Just knowing somebody’s name isn’t good enough. You have to get to know what motivates them and their passion.”
Sitake attributes his people skills and outgoing personality to two years as a missionary for the LDS Church in Oakland, California.
“I don’t know what it was — maybe getting rejected so much — but it lets you enjoy meeting people and having a genuine exchange,” he said. “I was really shy and didn’t like talking. But after the mission, it’s simple; they just force you out there.”
The former Utah defensive coordinator even opened up about Sept. 10 — the latest incarnation of the Holy War rivalry at Rice-Eccles Stadium.“I have Sept. 3 circled first,” he said. “But it would be crazy for me to say I don’t know what the schedule is like. I know where every game falls.
“That game against Utah is going to be fun. … I know that there are some fans that get pretty heated, but for a lot of others, it’s a good competition and there isn’t a lot of animosity behind it all.”
