Ken Niumatalolo turns down BYU, will stay at Navy

Ken Niumatalolo is staying at Navy.

After spending the last half week weighing a speculated job offer from BYU, Niumatalolo announced Wednesday that’s he’s staying with the Midshipmen.

Niumatalolo traveled to Provo, Utah with his wife last Sunday to meet with BYU officials on Monday. Niumatalolo had said following Saturday’s Navy win against Army that he wanted to check out the job because of his Mormon faith. BYU is the flagship university for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Also, Niumatalolo’s son, Va’a, is a sophomiore linebacker there.

“I love the Naval Academy,” Niumatalolo said. “I love what it stands for. But when this one opened up, it’s different. It’s just different for me.

“My faith is everything to me, and so this is the only reason I just feel like I need to listen to what they have to offer, and that’s it.”

Niumatalolo has been open about his interest in the BYU job. He told his players on Thursday about interviewing for the position despite the fact that Navy officials thought it might distract from the all-important year-end contest against Army.

In eight seasons at Navy, Niumatalolo has a 67-37 record, seven bowl appearances and five Commander-in-Chief’s trophies. This past season, Navy came within a game of playing for the American Athletic Conference title in its first year as a member of a conference.

Bronco Mendenhall announced earlier this month he was leaving BYU after 11 seasons to coach at Virginia. Mendenhall will coach BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl on Saturday against rival Utah.

Kalani Sitake, a former BYU player and current Oregon State defensive coordinator, also has interviewed for the BYU job.

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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter! Follow @YahooDrSaturday

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