Oregon State might be the toughest job in the Pac-12, but after losing coach Mike Riley to Nebraska, the Beavers are making quite the push to put together a very solid staff. First, OSU poached Gary Andersen from Wisconsin, and the school now has two rock-solid assistants joining him, according to Kevin Graham of WEEI: Utah defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake and defensive line coach Ilaisa Tuiaki.
Oregon State poaches 2 top Utah assistants, including DC Kalani Sitake
The Beavers are building quite the defensive coaching staff.
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Update: OSU “announced the appointments of Kalani Sitake, Chad Kauha’aha’a, Derrick Odum, Ilaisa Tuiaki, and T.J. Woods to assistant football coaching positions,” per a release.
This year, the Utes led the country in sacks, thanks in large part to Tuiaki’s All-America defensive end Nate Orchard. Building the Dam has more background on Sitake.
Sitake first coached under Andersen at Southern Utah, so it could explain some of the reason for the lateral move. According to Graham, Andersen wanted a defensive coordinator at Oregon State who understands the Pac-12 and has proven an ability to gameplan against the conference’s up-tempo offenses. Dave Aranda, Andersen’s defensive coordinator at Wisconsin, didn’t fit that bill.
Andersen may have found the perfect time to get someone to fit his criteria, as well.
The staff issues at Utah have been several months in the making. Not all that surprising some left.
— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) December 23, 2014 
How Utah's defense works
See More:
