After interviewing for the recent head coaching vacancy at BYU, Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo will stay at the service academy, athletic director Chet Gladchuk confirmed to Annapolis media Wednesday evening.
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“When this (BYU) one opened up, it’s different”, Niumatalolo said Saturday before guiding Navy to its 14th consecutive victory against arch-rival Army.
Niumatalolo traveled to Provo, Utah with his wife last Sunday to meet with BYU officials on Monday. It is believed that he also met with LDS Church leaders. “It is just different for me”. He has been head coach since 2007 and began as the team’s offensive coordinator in 2002, amassing a record of 67-37 and taking the Midshipmen to seven bowl games. “It’s my faith. That’s the only reason”. This year the Midshipmen played in the American Athletic Conference championship, in just their first year as a member in the conference. Navy fell to the No. 18 Cougars, 52-31, in the final regular season game November 27 to lose the tiebreaker. Many had speculated that Niumatalolo was in the driver’s seat for the position, but the trip to Utah came and went without an accepted offer. There is a buyout clause, according to Niumatalolo’s agent, Evan Beard, who declined to disclose the terms.
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The Navy coach was BYU’s leading candidate to replace Bronco Mendenhall, who left after 11 seasons to take the head coaching job at Virginia.
