PROVO — While trying to lead the BYU football program during a dismal season, coach Kalani Sitake has had others in the coaching profession reach out to him for support.
Among those is the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs — Andy Reid.
Reid, a former Cougar offensive lineman, has been a successful coach at the NFL level for 25 years. Reid's Chiefs boast a 5-1 record this season.
Legendary coach LaVell Edwards was someone that Sitake turned to frequently before Edwards passed away last December.
“Andy Reid’s been a good mentor to me since LaVell’s passing,” Sitake said. “He’s kind of filled that role a little bit.”
Sitake, whose team is 1-6 this season, added that others have also “given me words of encouragement,” including Norm Chow, Kyle Whittingham and Gary Andersen.
“This is one of those things where you can get advice from a lot of people but it could come really quickly, all the advice you get and try to filter out what’s more effective and what we’re dealing with,” Sitake said. “From an outsider’s perspective, they can see what we’re trying to establish and their perspective isn’t the same. We’re dealing with different things that are quite unique here. They’re not excuses. They’re just adjustments we have to make, whether it’s personnel or scheme or whatever it is.”