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Oregon Football: 5 coaching candidates who could replace Mario Cristobal

By Connor Muldowney

Dec 3, 2021; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Mario Cristobal reacts against the Utah Utesin the second half during the 2021 Pac-12 Championship Game at Allegiant Stadium.Utah defeated Oregon 38-10. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2021; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Mario Cristobal reacts against the Utah Utesin the second half during the 2021 Pac-12 Championship Game at Allegiant Stadium.Utah defeated Oregon 38-10. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 27, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; BYU Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake celebrates in the second half against the Southern California Trojans at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; BYU Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake celebrates in the second half against the Southern California Trojans at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Kalani Sitake, BYU head coach

A proven coach in Pac-12 territory who has been rising like crazy over the past couple of years has to be near the top of the Ducks’ list. Kalani Sitake is one of the most intriguing candidates in the country and I’m shocked he hasn’t been connected with Oregon more during this recent whirlwind of Miami rumors.

Sitake is a BYU alum, playing fullback from 1997-2000 and then played one year in the NFL before heading to the coaching ranks.

After a short stint at Eastern Arizona, he went back to his alma mater as a grad assistant and then moved on to Southern Utah. He then got a big break with Utah for nine years as a defensive assistant, working all the way up to defensive coordinator before taking the same position at Oregon State, and then BYU hired him to replace Bronco Mendenhall as head coach.

It’s not easy leaving your alma mater and maybe Sitake won’t even consider doing so, but he seems to have hit his ceiling in Provo when even a 10-2 season can’t even earn a New Year’s Day bowl. He’s a heck of a coach and would be elite with the resources at Oregon. If the Ducks can convince him to leave, it would be a huge win.

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