Utah Utes football: Steve Sarkisian praises coordinators

PASADENA, Calif. — Washington coach Steve Sarkisian had plenty of praise for fellow BYU alums Aaron Roderick and Kalani Sitake, who are now coordinators at Utah.

Sarkisian tried to hire Roderick shortly after he was hired by the Huskies, and earlier this summer — before Utah was invited to join the Pac-10 — he had his defensive staff meet with Sitake.

"We did. We didn't know all this was happening," Sarkisian joked at the Pac-10's media day Thursday at the Rose Bowl.

The former BYU quarterback then took on a more serious tone, however, when asked about Roderick and Sitake.

"I think the world of Aaron. I wouldn't have tried to hire him if I didn't," Sarkisian said. "He's a bright young mind. He's energetic. I think the kids respond to him. He's a tremendous recruiter."

Sarkisian also thinks "the world of" Sitake.

"Those guys are both two good, young coordinators that are going to be in our profession for a long time," he said.