JUST IN: “MORE THAN JUST A NAME” — KALANI SITAKE NAMES NEWBORN SON ‘LAVELL’ IN TOUCHING TRIBUTE TO BYU LEGEND
August 9, 2025 — Provo, Utah
In a deeply personal and emotional tribute, BYU head football coach Kalani Sitake has named his newborn son Lavell, honoring the late and legendary BYU coach LaVell Edwards — a man Sitake has long credited as one of the most important figures in his life.
Sitake, 49, made the announcement early Saturday morning via a heartfelt social media post accompanied by a photo of his newborn wrapped in a navy blue blanket, adorned with the words “Tradition. Spirit. Honor.” — the three pillars of BYU Football, popularized during Edwards’ era.
> “This name is more than just a name,” Sitake wrote. “It’s a legacy of faith, humility, leadership, and love. Lavell Edwards didn’t just build a football program — he built men. He changed lives. He changed my life. And now, my son will carry that spirit forward.”
The post immediately went viral among the BYU community and beyond, with current and former players, coaches, and fans flooding the comments with congratulations and memories of Coach Edwards, who passed away in 2016 at the age of 86.
A Full-Circle Tribute
For Sitake, the decision to name his son Lavell is a full-circle moment.
Born in Tonga and raised in Utah, Sitake played fullback for BYU from 1994 to 1997 under LaVell Edwards. After his playing days, he began a coaching journey that would eventually bring him back to Provo in 2016 — the same year Edwards passed — to become BYU’s first Tongan head football coach.
> “There’s no Kalani the coach without Lavell Edwards,” Sitake once said in a 2021 interview. “There might not even be a Kalani the man.”
Those who knew Edwards describe him as a quiet giant of the sport — a devout man of faith, a father figure to hundreds of players, and a visionary who revolutionized the passing game in college football. Under his leadership, BYU won a national championship in 1984 and became one of the most respected programs in the country.
A Name That Carries Weight
For Sitake, giving his son the name Lavell is not just about honoring the past — it’s about carrying a torch into the future.
> “When my wife and I talked about names, we kept coming back to this one,” Sitake said in a short video released by BYU Athletics. “It felt right. It felt powerful. It felt like something our son could grow into — a name tied to wisdom, quiet strength, and deep purpose.”
The newborn, full name Lavell Mafi Sitake, was born weighing 7 pounds, 9 ounces, and is already being welcomed like a future Cougar. BYU fans online have affectionately dubbed him “Little Coach” and “Baby Lavell.”
The Edwards Family Responds
The family of LaVell Edwards also issued a public statement expressing gratitude and support:
> “We are humbled and touched by Kalani’s tribute to our father. It means the world to see his legacy live on through a man who embodies everything he stood for. We know Dad would be proud — and probably cracking a joke about calling some plays for diaper changes.”
More Than Football
While the name Lavell will always be synonymous with BYU football, for Kalani Sitake, it’s a reminder of what the sport — and life — are truly about.
> “Coach Edwards taught us to lead with love. That football is a tool to serve others. That wins are great, but people matter more. That’s the legacy I want to pass on to my son.”
As the newest member of the Sitake family settles in, one thing is clear: his name will never be just a name — it’s a legacy stitched into the very fabric of BYU history.
And in that name, a legend lives on.
