Connecting Continents: BYU Football’s Global Outreach Through BYU–Pathway

The BYU football team’s on-field success in 2024 has received national recognition. Its success off the field is equally notable.

Under the guidance of Head Coach Kalani Sitake, football players are mentoring BYU–Pathway Worldwide students and fostering global connections. BYU–Pathway Worldwide is an innovative and spiritually based educational initiative sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It makes higher education accessible to individuals everywhere, regardless of their circumstances. By offering online courses and degrees in collaboration with BYU–Idaho and Ensign College, it provides affordable and flexible educational opportunities.

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Today, BYU–Pathway Worldwide has more than 65,000 students in all 50 states and in over 180 countries.

As Coach Sitake, BYU–Pathway Worldwide Advisory Chair Matthew Downs and others considered earlier this year how to help the football program discover more opportunities to serve, they decided to tap into BYU–Pathway Worldwide’s global network.

“[This fits with our school’s motto that] the world is our campus,” Coach Sitake said. “And if it is our campus, then we should be connected with students from BYU all over the world. My goal is to get our guys connected with everyone in the world, to do whatever we can do to help. This will enhance their experience and give them more to be proud of when they take the field. It will also help them realize they’ve been blessed and have a lot of people who support them.”

In early August 2024, the team organized a Zoom call with BYU–Pathway students in Africa. Anticipating around 75 participants, they were thrilled when hundreds more participated. Technology allowed for only 300, though more wanted to join.

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“It was a very uniting experience where the world truly became our campus,” Downs said. “And BYU President Shane Reese and BYU–Pathway Worldwide President Brian K. Ashton really brought home a very special message as they spoke.”

The students shared stories with the team about overcoming adversity through teamwork, discipline and humility.

BYU wide receiver Chase Roberts said learning about the sacrifices the students are making to get an education helps him and his teammates better appreciate their own blessings.

“They really do put their all into everything that they do,” Roberts said. “We need to put in as much effort as they do because they’re waking at 4 a.m. and they’re grinding. We complain sometimes that we don’t have it good. But looking at their lives and what they have been through and how much faith they have gives us a perspective that we can also take it a step further and be better.”

“It was an amazing event. The Lord was definitely here with us during that meeting,” added BYU safety Tanner Wall.

During the call, BYU defensive end Carson Tujague saw a familiar face. He reconnected with Kakooza Richard of Uganda, a missionary companion from his mission in Botswana and Namibia. Tujague reflected on how this connection has positively impacted his life. He also emphasized the valuable resources and sense of global community offered by BYU–Pathway Worldwide.

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“[Richard] helped me become a lot better of a man,” Tujague said. “Just being able to see him brought back a lot of the memories that I had made with him while I was on my mission. He had talked to me about BYU–Pathway before and the great connection and resources that it can give someone. What I love the most about BYU–Pathway is it helps you have family all around the world. No matter where you are, you have family.”

The call led to Faith Kisakye giving a prerecorded prayer from her home in Uganda. The prayer was shown before a BYU football game in September. BYU opens all its home athletic competitions with prayer.

“I was just spreading the goodness and the love of Jesus Christ to the world,” Kisakye said. “The glory of the Lord is just moving like wind. It’s really a blessing and I just cried after that interaction. I feel happy and blessed to be part of the workers working in a vineyard to bring souls back to Heavenly Father.”

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The BYU football team has also made connections with Pathway students in South America and the South Pacific.

Coach Sitake said these interactions have helped alleviate players’ anxiety and stress and foster a sense of gratitude and appreciation.

“I saw them jumping at these opportunities to mentor and then be connected with students all over the world,” Sitake said.

BYU–Pathway Worldwide not only supports students academically but also helps them build confidence for remote job interviews and other professional opportunities. The program exemplifies the principle that “by small and simple things are great things brought to pass,” a Book of Mormon scripture often cited by Coach Sitake in team meetings.

“Just through small efforts talking to these Pathway students on WhatsApp or meeting with them on Google Meet calls or Zoom calls we’re able to help them feel more confident going into interviews for remote jobs,” Wall said. “We can help them tweak their resume and change small things that might look more professional and have a leg up in some of those opportunities that might arise for them.”

As BYU football continues its season, players and coaches remain focused on their broader mission of service and connection, demonstrating that their influence extends far beyond the game.

And Pathway students are blessing them.

“There are a lot of people on the other side of the world that need our fellowship. And what I realize is that we need theirs too,” Coach Sitake said. “We get to work and help serve others, and then they serve you in return. And that’s what the gospel is all about.”

Connecting with BYU–Pathway Worldwide students has gone so well that Coach Sitake encourages others to reach out — to bless and be blessed.

“Get involved and try to find ways to serve and to help others,” he said. “You may think your role is not extravagant, but it’s the simple, simple things that happen. [You can help] anybody that needs connection.”

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