Brigham Young University announced Thursday that it will split its football program from the remaining 20 sports, a change that takes effect just nine days before the Cougars open the season.
A strategic shift
Under the new arrangement, head coach Kalani Sitake will report directly to university vice president Keith Vorkink, while longtime administrator Brian Santiago will supervise the rest of the athletic portfolio.
The move comes as rumors of tension between Sitake and Santiago circulate, and as college sports grapple with expanding conference realignments, rising scholarship costs, and heightened expectations for revenue generation.
Sitake, who has compiled a 23‑4 record over the past two seasons and led the team to back‑to‑back bowl victories, has publicly called for additional investment to close the gap with rival programs and to enhance resources for player development.
The university also named Marc Hill as its new deputy athletic director; Hill previously served as football administrator at the University of Kentucky before transitioning to a senior role in basketball operations, bringing a blend of experience that officials say will strengthen cross‑sport support.
Brian Santiago, who has led the athletic department for 29 years and succeeded Tom Holmoe in May 2025, is expected to leverage his deep institutional knowledge and recent successes in both football and basketball to guide the department through a complex marketplace.
University leaders say the restructuring is intended to create clearer pathways for resource allocation while preserving the mission and culture that have defined BYU athletics for decades, even as the school confronts the pressures of a rapidly evolving collegiate sports environment.