Crumbl Cookies CEO Jason McGowan has stepped forward as one of BYU’s most vocal boosters amid mounting rumors that head coach Kalani Sitake has emerged as a top target in Penn State’s ongoing coaching search.
On Monday, reports indicated Sitake was a serious candidate in Happy Valley, a development that often ends in a hire. But nothing has been finalized, and McGowan made clear he intends to help keep BYU’s coach in Provo. In a cryptic social media post, he wrote, “Some people are not replaceable. Sounds like it is time for me to get off the sidelines and get to work.”
While McGowan didn’t directly reference Sitake at first, fans quickly connected the dots. Hours later, he followed with a lengthy message explicitly praising the ninth-year head coach and urging Cougar fans to rally behind him. McGowan then asked supporters to publicly share why Sitake matters to them while offering an incentive of four 50-yard-line seats and airfare to the Big 12 Championship Game.
“Right now is the moment to let Kalani feel the love, respect, and gratitude of Cougar Nation,” McGowan wrote. “Let’s lift Kalani together.”
Sitake has gone 83-44 since taking over in 2016, has led BYU to four double-digit win seasons and a berth in this week’s Big 12 title game against Texas Tech. He downplayed the Penn State buzz, saying he is “all about the Big 12 championship.”
Whether the game slows Penn State’s pursuit remains unclear, but the coaching tug-of-war has become one of the top college football storylines of the week.
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