Whittingham landed in Orlando to start his new job on Saturday.
(Kevin Kolczynski | AP) BYU head coach Kalani Sitake eats a Pop-Tart during the trophy presentation after defeating Georgia Tech in the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Saturday.
Orlando, FL • Just a few miles from the Michigan team hotel where Kyle Whittingham met his new team for the first time, Kalani Sitake said he called it.
After defeating Georgia Tech 25-21 in Orlando, the BYU head coach insisted he never thought Whittingham might actually retire from football.
And indeed, instead of retiring, the former Utah coach signed a five-year deal with Michigan on Friday.
“I said it’s hard to see Kyle not doing something. And there is something,” Sitake said.
But Whittingham’s new coaching gig could have significant implications for Sitake.
While BYU played in the Pop-Tarts Bowl, Whittingham flew himself to Florida to meet the Wolverines as they prepared for their bowl game. Michigan will play Texas in the same stadium in a few days.
Whittingham is said to be eyeing BYU defensive coordinator Jay Hill as his top assistant in Ann Arbor. It would be one of the premier coordinator positions in college football and potentially a foot in the door for a head coaching job.
“When [Whittingham takes a job]he has a network that he goes to to get a crew together. That’s how football works,” Sitake said. “I feel really good about what we have here with the players and the coaches. We’ll go with what we have. They started a foundation and Jay was a big part of that on the defensive end.”
When pressed on whether Sitake could confirm that Hill was leaving, he turned to his coordinator. But he thanked him for his efforts.
“Jay will make his own statements,” Sitake said. “I just recognize that Kyle is at Michigan and guys have to make a decision.
A decision on Hill’s future will likely come quickly once Whittingham puts together a staff.
Whittingham is in Orlando this weekend to meet with the Michigan administration in person.
“It’s not me. I’m here to stay,” Sitake said. “The program is in a really good place because of a lot of people. It will be an honor to continue this cause.”
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