Oregon St.'s new Defensive Coordinator for new head coach Gary Andersen will be Kalani Sitake, who has been at Utah since 2005, first as linebackers coach, and since 2009 as the Ute's defensive coordinator, according to reports out of Salt Lake City.
The 29 year old Brigham Young grad known officially as Kelaokalani Fifita "Kalani" Sitake, followed Andersen as the DC at Utah, when Andersen moved on to revive the Utah St. program, and became the first Tongan to be a defensive coordinator at an FBS school.
Sitake also had assistant coaching stints at Eastern Arizona, BYU, and Southern Utah.
Sitake had received an offer of a contract extension last week, prior to Utah's Las Vegas Bowl performance, a 45-10 Ute win in which Colorado St., a 10 win team, was held to 278 total yards, only 12 of which were on the ground.
Under Sitake's direction, Utah led the nation in quarterback sacks this past season.
Sitake made the decision today, and was scheduling a meeting with his defensive players to advise them this afternoon.
Sitake's decision could move along the hiring of a defensive line coach and a linebackers coach, important in shoring up the recruiting class.
The Salt Lake Tribune has also reported that Ilaisa Tuiaki,Utah's current defensive line coach will be joining Sitake at Oregon St. Tuiaki also has been an assistant under Andersen previously, so that's certainly a possibility, though it has been previously announced that Wisconsin defensive line coach Chad Kauha'aha'a is also set to join Andersen at Oregon St.
It's possible that that will mean a change of position for one of them, and the logical move would be to shift Tuiaki, who has experience coaching the running backs position as well, either to that post, or more possibly to become the linebackers coach, a position as yet unfilled as well, and one that hasn't had any names associated with yet.
Tuiaki has also coached special teams and tight ends, and was the recruiting coordinator at Utah St., making him the plug and play option at several positions.
Andersen has yet to announce assignments for his defensive assistants, other than Sitake as Defensive Coordinator, with the additional title of Assistant Head Coach.
Andersen did announce today that Evan Simon will be the Beavers' new strength and conditioning coach. Simon has held that position under Andersen the last 2 years at Wisconsin, and the 4 years before that at Utah St.
Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com