“If I could go back [to my time as a freshman in college] and tell myself anything, it would be that God has a plan for you,” taught Kalani Sitake, BYU’s head football coach.
In his Tuesday morning devotional at the Marriott Center, he focused on how God shaped his life even through struggles and setbacks, ultimately leading him toward something greater.
“It’s important to realize that there is a divine design for us,” Sitake said.
He recounted his journey from being born in Tonga to moving to Hawaii, and later experiencing the turmoil of his parents’ divorce. As a child, he was constantly moving between California, Utah and Hawaii. This made various aspects of life, such as sustaining friendships, very difficult.
Sitake’s biggest source of joy during this time was BYU football. At an elementary school assembly with BYU athletes, his favorite player, Vai Sikahema, noticed him and offered words of encouragement and a hug, which profoundly influenced his life.
“That hug fixed something in me that was broken. It was during that hug that I knew, I’m going to play football for BYU and be just like this player,” Sitake expressed.
He emphasized that God is present in both the small and significant moments of our lives, guiding us through divine design.
“Can you imagine how I feel now as I watch our players interact and connect with young people?” Sitake said. “It has to be more than just football, especially here. This is one of my favorite parts of my job.”
After achieving his dream of joining the NFL, Sitake’s career was abruptly ended by a debilitating injury. He was initially angry and confused, but later found comfort in trusting God’s plan for him.
“It was one of the most frustrating moments of my life. I felt lonely, abandoned and distraught. I was broken … again,” Sitake explained. “Then all of a sudden, I felt this warmth that was very familiar, much like the same feeling I had as a 9-year-old boy getting hugged by my favorite football player. But this time it felt like a hug from the Savior and His angels saying, “Everything is gonna be fine, I love you and God loves you. I was healed immediately — not physically, but spiritually and mentally. My anger quickly went away and my goal now was to find God’s plan for me”
Over the next fifteen years, Sitake grew as a husband, father, coach and person, gaining the skills and experiences that prepared him for his current job as the coach of BYU football.
“You’re going to experience adversity and difficult times,” Sitake said. “If you get your heart broken, good for you. It means you’re a step closer to finding true love. If you’re struggling in school, it means you’re learning new skills. If you’re low in funds, it means you’re learning how to budget and will be thankful and humble when more compensation arrives.”
Drawing parallels between life’s hardships and Christ’s suffering, Sitake emphasized that God provides comfort, strength and purpose through adversity.
“[Jesus Christ] taught us to love God and to love one another. He showed love in everything He did and we continue to learn from Him and His example,” Sitake concluded.
