Needing some hope? BYU football coach Kalani Sitake’s recent devotional reminds us that—thanks to God—there are brighter days ahead.
When setbacks and challenges happen—as they always do—what’s the best way to avoid discouragement? According to College of Humanities alum Kalani Sitake (English ’01), remembering that God is in our corner can help us build our resilience and ability to overcome challenges. On March 11, 2025, Sitake, now the head coach for the BYU football team, gave a devotional on how God has guided him to a brighter future than he could ever imagine—and how we too can trust in God’s promises despite setbacks.
Growing up, Sitake found himself uprooted and alone after his parents’ divorce separated him from his siblings and shuffled him from one family member’s house to another. When he finally rejoined his father and siblings in Orem in fourth grade, Sitake had a life-changing encounter with a BYU football player during a team visit at his elementary school. This player (who is now a General Authority Seventy) noticed Sitake sitting alone and went out of his way to tell Sitake that everything would be okay because God knew him and had a plan for him. The exchange impacted Sitake so deeply that he decided on the spot he’d play football for BYU someday—and he did, playing as a fullback during his time as a student. He planned to go pro after college, but health issues ended his career before it even began, and Sitake found himself coaching football instead.
Though a hugely discouraging setback at the time, this unexpected career shift set Sitake on a whole new path—one that would lead him to his eventual instatement as BYU’s head football coach. As he struggled to adjust to his life’s new trajectory, Sitake trusted that God had something better in mind for him . . . and it paid off. “God was right: for me, this is definitely something better . . . the dream job I never knew I always wanted,” Sitake said. “God knows. Good times are ahead. Your highlights are coming. [Seek out God’s] designs and trust His plan for [you].”
Listen to Coach Sitake’s full devotional here.