BYU has restructured its athletic department by removing football oversight from Director of Athletics Brian Santiago and assigning those responsibilities to Keith Vorkink, the university's advancement vice president. The organizational shift, announced August 27, comes just nine days before the football team's season opener and follows the recent addition of longtime Kentucky administrator Marc Hill to the university's senior leadership team.
Organizational Shifts in Leadership
The restructuring marks a significant change in how the university manages its flagship sports program. Formerly, Brian Santiago oversaw every sports program within the athletic department. Under the new organizational structure, football will no longer fall under Santiago's direct oversight, as those duties move to Vorkink.
University Response to Change
University spokeswoman Audrey Perry Martin stated that the adjustments reflect a commitment to investing in student-athletes and strengthening world-class programs. Martin noted that Santiago remains the athletic director and that the university continues to adapt to the changing landscape of college athletics to align with the institution's mission.
Resource Concerns and Coaching Tensions
The decision to split administrative responsibilities comes amid public tension regarding resources for the football program. In a July 30 radio interview, head coach Kalani Sitake expressed frustration with current resource levels, stating that his team was "challenged with doing the most with the least." Sitake encouraged the athletic department to continue investing in BYU football to avoid repeating past mistakes.
Coaching and Administration Friction
The shift in reporting lines for Sitake follows public speculation regarding his relationship with Santiago. During the team's photo day earlier this month, Sitake was asked about receiving necessary resources; he responded by telling the media that they should contact his agent moving forward. Under the new structure, Sitake will no longer report to Santiago regarding football matters.
New Leadership Addition
This restructuring follows the recent hiring of Marc Hill, who joined the senior leadership team on August 10. Hill, who served as the deputy director of athletics at the University of Kentucky, will serve as a deputy athletic director at BYU, overseeing various administrative and operational efforts.
Hill's Professional Background
Hill joins the BYU executive team with 27 years of experience at the University of Kentucky. During his tenure at Kentucky, he served nine years as executive associate athletics director and was named deputy director of athletics in 2019. He also served as the sport administrator for Kentucky football and previously spent 12 years as the director of strength and conditioning.
Kentucky Athletics Experience-Proven Success
Hill's background includes a significant role in the success of Kentucky's football program, where he played a part in the hiring of head coach Mark Stoops and the program's return to postseason bowl play from 2016 through 2023. He also served as the sport administrator for Kentucky's nationally ranked baseball program, including during its highly successful 2012 season.
