Penn State’s coaching search has entered uncharted territory. With National Signing Day already here, the Nittany Lions remain without a head coach, prompting top recruits to reconsider their commitments and explore other programs.
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake was thought to be the top candidate in Happy Valley, but he reportedly told the school that he intends on staying at BYU. On Tuesday, he made his decision official by signing a long-term extension to help turn the Cougars into a powerhouse in the Big 12 Conference.
To sweeten the deal, BYU is committing $10 to $15 million of NIL on top of revenue sharing, according to On3. Sitake’s new contract extension is currently expected to pay him roughly $9.5 million per year, making him one of the highest-paid coaches in the country.
BYU wasted no time in putting an end to Penn State’s pursuit of Sitake, calling a press conference on Tuesday evening to make the extension official.
“We are excited to announce a long-term agreement to extend Kalani Sitake as BYU’s head football coach,” BYU Athletics Director Brian Santiago said. “He is a proven leader, and we are grateful he is once again choosing BYU. His legacy of building a championship program the BYU way will continue on. He is one of the best people in the business. We are excited to continue to ride the wave of positive momentum with him.”
But the decision wasn’t purely Sitake’s.
Behind the scenes, a high-profile donor got to work and made sure he stayed.
How Crumbl Cookies CEO Jason McGowan Stepped In To Keep Sitake at BYU
Penn State’s pursuit of Sitake was complicated by the involvement of Jason McGowan, the billionaire CEO of Crumbl Cookies and another prominent BYU donor.
The Nittany Lions are coming off a disappointing 6-6 season, and athletic director Pat Kraft has been under pressure to move decisively. Sitake emerged as the top target after other candidates reportedly passed or showed limited interest. Meetings were held, contract talks were progressing, and Penn State appeared poised to make a move.
Then McGowan stepped in.
Some people are not replaceable. Sounds like it is time for me to get off the sidelines and get to work.
— Jason McGowan (@jasonmcgowan) December 1, 2025
McGowan’s intervention has been both public and pointed. On social media, he declared Sitake was “not replaceable” and signaled that BYU’s donor base would mobilize to ensure their coach stays.
Then, he offered incentives for BYU fans to pour out their appreciation for Sitake on social media. McGowan gave away four 50-yard-line seats and airfare to the Big 12 Championship game for the top two responses.
The move apparently worked.
During the press conference, Sitake was nearly brought to tears when talking about the “love bomb” and outpouring of support from BYU fans in the moments leading up to his decision.
My favorite part of the presser was Kalani talking about the “love bomb” he got from y’all on social media. It meant a lot to him that cougar nation loves him so much.
— Jason McGowan (@jasonmcgowan) December 3, 2025
“So, finally, I want to express my love to all of the fans,” Sitake said. “My wife said that the last day or so was one of her favorites… she called it a love bomb from all of the fans.”
“It’s hard to leave when you have something so special and you have amazing people that support us.”
With the deal done, Sitake’s loyalty to BYU is no longer in question and Penn State’s coaching search hits another wall.
In the wake of Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss exit, Sitake’s choice proves some coaches simply can’t be bought
