Coaching Trees--Part of LaVell Edward's Legacy

Football
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As Sitake become the official head coach at BYU, something occurred to me. Sitake is now the 3rd Kyle Whittingham Assistant to become a head coach at another school. The others were Gary Anderson at Utah State and Jay Hill at Weber State. Where Bronco hasn’t seen any of his assistants hired by other schools.

Of course, the LaVell Edwards coaching tree is extensive. Former players and assistant coaches are everywhere, and there are even two of them…by my count…wearing Super Bowl rings. (Brian Billick and Mike Holmgren).

Kalane Sitake is the first person who played for LaVell Edwards to take the reigns at BYU.

Consider this. Kyle Whittingham was also a person who played under LaVell Edwards. So I was wondering, how many who have been an assistant coach or player under Edwards become head coaches. I found out. With Sitake becoming BYU’s head coach, there are now 13 branches on the LaVell Edwards Coaching Tree. Here is the list:

-Mike Holmgren–Former Assistant (Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks) Super Bowl XXXI Champion
-Steve Sarkisian–Former Player (Washington, USC)
-Norm Chow–Former Assistant (Hawaii)
-Dave Kragthorpe–Former Assistant (Oregon State)
-Kyle Whittingham–Former Player (Utah)
-Brian Billick–Former Player and Assistant (Baltimore Ravens) Super Bowl XXXV Champion
-Ted Tollner–Former Assistant (USC)
-Doug Scovil–Former Assistant (San Diego State)
-Tom Holmoe–Former Player (California)
-Andy Reid–Former Player (Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs)
-Charlie Stubbs–Former Assistant (Nichols State)
-Mike Leach–Former Assistant (Texas Tech , Washington State)
-Kalani Sitake–Former Player (BYU)

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Kalani Sitake how do we pronounce his name?

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Wow! Quite an impressive list. It is even more eye opening to see all the names together and the accomplishments. Thanks for doing the research and compiling.

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I didn’t think Leach was an assistant. I know he went to BYU and he admired LaVell, but I never heard that he was an actual assistant.

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Outside of an attempt at disparaging Bronco Mendenhall, what is the point of that comment?

Does it have any significance to the Edwards coaching legacy post that you made?

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Jim,

Not necessarily…however one mark of great leadership is that they prepare others to lead in their wake.

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You are correct. Some people have Mike listed in LaVell’s tree because Mike says that he was influenced by LaVell’s wide-open style. Some would also list Hal Mumme as well.

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