Sitake named semifinalist for George Munger Collegiate Coach of the Year Award

PHILADELPHIA — BYU head football coach Kalani Sitake has been named one of 15 semifinalists for the 2021 George Munger Collegiate Coach of the Year Award, presented annually by the Maxwell Football Club.

Sitake joins Nick Saban at Alabama and Luke Fickell at Cincinnati as one of just three head coaches who were also semifinalists for the award in 2020. Other finalists for the 2021 George Munger Collegiate Coach of the Year Award include all four coaches competing in the College Football Playoffs and eight head coaches who led their teams to conference championships.

BYU posted a 10-2 regular season record and a No. 12/14 national rankings in 2021, as well as a No. 13 ranking in the CFP Poll. The season featured five wins over Pac-12 schools, including a 26-17 victory over conference champion Utah and wins over Arizona, ASU, USC and Washington State for a perfect 5-0 record versus the Pac-12. The Cougars also defeated Mountain West Conference champion Utah State as well as ACC bowl bound Virginia.

The Cougars are led by All-American running back Tyler Allgeier who is tied for the national lead with 20 rushing touchdowns and seventh with 1,409 rushing yards. The BYU offense is ranked in the top 30 in 12 different categories. Sitake is also a finalist for entry into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame in 2021. On Friday, Dec. 10, BYU director of athletics Tom Holmoe announced Sitake had agreed to a new contract that runs through the 2027 season. 

In alphabetical order by school, the 2021 semifinalists for the George Munger Collegiate Coach of the Year Award are, Nick Saban, Alabama (SEC); Sam Pittman, Arkansas (SEC); Dave Aranda, Baylor (Big 12); Kalani Sitake, BYU (Independent); Luke Fickel, Cincinnati (AAC); Kirby Smart, Georgia (SEC); Mel Tucker, Michigan State (Big Ten); Jim Harbaugh, Michigan (Big Ten); Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State (Big 12); Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss (SEC); Pat Narduzzi, Pitt (ACC); Kyle Whittingham, Utah (Pac-12); Blake Anderson, Utah State (MWC); Jeff Traylor, UTSA (CUSA); and Dave Clawson, Wake Forest (ACC). 

Semifinalist voting for the Collegiate Coach of the Year award will begin on Friday, Dec. 17 and close on Wednesday, Dec. 29. The finalist round will include the top five coaches as selected in the semifinalist round. Finalist voting will open Thursday, Dec. 30 and run until Tuesday, Jan. 11. The winner will be announced Thursday, Jan. 13. The formal presentation of the Munger Award will take place at the 85th Maxwell Awards Gala which will be held on Friday, March 18 at Harrah’s Atlantic City Resort. 

Eligible voters include Maxwell Football Club members, NCAA Head Football Coaches, Sports Information Directors and selected national media. Jamey Chadwell of Coastal Carolina was the 2020 winner of the award.

The George Munger, Maxwell and Bednarik Awards are members of the National College Football Awards Association which encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. The 24 awards boast over 750 years of tradition-selection excellence.