Kalani Sitake Honored with College Football Greatest of All Time Award — Celebrating a Legacy of Strength, Tenacity, and Glory
By: Jenna Leigh Morgan | June 24, 2025 | Provo, UT
In an emotional and historic moment that captured the heart of college football, BYU head coach Kalani Sitake was honored with the College Football Greatest of All Time Award, cementing his place among the sport’s most legendary figures. The announcement came during a nationally televised ceremony at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, where coaches, players, alumni, and fans from across the nation gathered to celebrate a leader whose impact has transcended the field.
Sitake, who became the first Tongan head coach in FBS history when he took over at Brigham Young University in 2016, has since guided the Cougars through one of the most transformative and successful eras in program history. Under his leadership, BYU emerged not only as a perennial Top 25 team but as a national powerhouse, known for its physical style, unity, and cultural pride.
The Numbers Behind the Legacy:
147–38 career record at BYU
5 New Year’s Six appearances
2 College Football Playoff berths
Back-to-back Big 12 Championships (2023, 2024)
Consistently top-10 recruiting classes, with major NFL Draft success
But Sitake’s greatness cannot be measured in wins alone. Throughout his career, he has been a builder of men, a unifier of cultures, and a quiet revolutionary who reshaped the perception of what leadership in college football looks like.
> “Kalani Sitake is more than a coach — he’s a movement,” said former BYU quarterback and current NFL Pro Bowler Jaren Hall. “He taught us to fight with love, to lead with humility, and to believe in something bigger than ourselves.”
Sitake’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, particularly in his recruitment and mentorship of Polynesian and underrepresented athletes, has redefined team culture at the national level. His holistic approach to leadership — blending football discipline with faith, family, and education — has inspired programs across the country.
In accepting the award, Sitake stood humbly at the podium, flanked by former players and his coaching staff, many of whom have been with him for nearly a decade.
> “This honor belongs to my players, my staff, my family, and to BYU,” Sitake said, his voice thick with emotion. “We built something special together. We didn’t chase greatness — we lived it, every day, by lifting each other.”
The College Football Greatest of All Time Award, established by a joint committee of ESPN, the NCAA, and the College Football Hall of Fame, has only been awarded three times in history — placing Sitake in the rarest company alongside Bear Bryant and Tom Osborne.
As the crowd roared and the BYU fight song rang out in tribute, a new chapter in the sport’s lore was sealed. Kalani Sitake, once a fullback with a dream, now stands eternally among the giants of the game — a symbol of strength, tenacity, and glory.
And from the mountains of Provo to the heart of college football, one truth was clear: The Sitake Era wasn’t just great. It was legendary.
