FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (Nov. 15, 2022) – The Frank & Barbara Broyles Foundation announced BYU passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach Fesi Sitake as a nominee for the 2022 Broyles Award, which honors college football’s top assistant coaches.
Sitake is one 41 nominees selected from approximately 1,500 assistant coaches representing 131 FBS programs across the country. The Broyles Award selection process includes the Football Writers Association of America, broadcasters, a College Football Hall of Fame selection committee and current college head coaches.
Despite dealing with a rash of injuries to the BYU wide receiver corp since fall camp, Sitake has guided the group to success. The BYU passing game is currently ranked in the top 35 nationally in several offensive categories including receiving yards (2,650), receiving yards per game (265), yards per completion (12.1) and receiving touchdowns (25).
In addition, Pro Football Focus has junior wideout Puka Nacua ranked as one of the highest-graded receivers in college football in 2022, while freshman Kody Epps was emerging as a go-to target for quarterback Jaren Hall with 39 receptions, 459 yards and six touchdowns before suffering a season-ending injury against Liberty in late October. Nacua currently leads the Cougars with 40 receptions, 539 yards and five touchdowns.
Sitake, joined the BYU staff as the wide receivers coach in 2018 and had the passing game coordinator responsibilities added in 2021. He helped guide BYU to a 10-3 record and a No. 19 final ranking in 2021. In 2020, the Cougars finished the year at 11-1, earning a No. 11 final ranking while boasting a top-10 offense.
Over the past two seasons, four BYU receivers were either selected in the NFL Draft or signed free agent contracts, including 7th round pick Dax Milne, who is currently in his second season with the Washington Commanders. In 2020, Milne finished No. 4 in the nation with 1,188 receiving yards on 70 catches and had eight receiving TDs. He was a finalist for the 2020 Burlsworth Trophy and a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award.
As a player Sitake was a two-time Great West All-Conference performer at Southern Utah and finished his career as one of the top wide receivers in SUU history. As a senior in 2010, he had 877 receiving yards, the ninth most in Thunderbird history and finished sixth in the nation in receptions per game.
Before coming to BYU, Sitake was the offensive coordinator at Weber State from 2016-17. He was also the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach from 2014-15. Sitake began his coaching career as a student assistant at Southern Utah in 2011. He was named the wide receivers coach in 2012 and had the passing game coordinator responsibilities added in 2013.
A 43-member selection committee of former head coaches, broadcasters and a committee representing the FWAA will select from the list of nominees 15 semi-finalists, five finalists and eventually an overall winner.