Utah Utes defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake is interested in becoming the next head coach for the Utah State Aggies, according to a report from the Salt Lake Tribune, and school officials have been in contact with the coach's agent.

Utah State has been thrust into a coaching search after fourth-year head coach Gary Andersen has reportedly accepted an offer to become the head coach for the Wisconsin Badgers. If hired, Sitake would be filling Andersen's shoes for a second time. Sitake took over Andersen's post as defensive coordinator at Utah when Andersen left the Utes to take the head job at Utah State in 2009.

Sitake joined Utah's staff in 2005 as linebackers coach and has developed a reputation as a top recruiter in the West. His salary was doubled to $500,000 after the 2011 season, twice as much as Utah's offensive coordinator.

According to public records, Gary Andersen's base salary at Utah State was $467,000, but the coach signed a contract extension in October that was worth $765,000 annually with incentives.

As a player, Sitake averaged 4.3 yards per carry as fullback for the BYU Cougars.