While intense rivalry is common in major college football, BYU head coach Kalani Sitake exemplified compassion when discussing Utah defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley’s recent promotion. Sitake and Scalley worked together at Utah from 2005 to 2014, before Sitake moved to Oregon State in 2015. At the Big 12 Media Days, Sitake took a moment to congratulate Scalley on his new title as “head coach in waiting” and reminisced about their shared tenure at Utah.
One of the intriguing aspects of the Utah/BYU rivalry is its deep connections among coaches, players, and fans. Sitake reflected on the extensive coaching lineage shared between both schools, highlighting Morgan Scalley’s development under Kyle Whittingham.
“He’s a tremendous coach who has benefited greatly from Kyle Whittingham’s mentorship,” Sitake remarked. “We share a common football philosophy. I’m genuinely happy for Morgan. When we were all on the same coaching staff, we couldn’t have predicted this future where I’m head coach at BYU and he’s poised to lead at Utah. It’s a testament to the mentoring legacy of Kyle Whittingham, who played at BYU under LaVell Edwards — as did I — and the broader impact of LaVell Edwards in football, including Andy Reid, who also played for BYU. It’s a fascinating football lineage.”
