The recruiting pitch is 1) you can come in and compete for a job in a Pac-12 program right away, and 2) you can come to Oregon State and have a good LDS experience. And that is the same message that Utah has used for a very long time. I know Utah's message because I heard that it when they recruited my BIL.
I do know why Sitake left Utah. I also know he was willing to look at jobs outside of Utah, but only if it was a HC job, which he hopde would be in the MWC. That changed when Gary Anderson came calling, because he has had a longer relationship with Gary (who gave him his first real coaching job at SUU) than with Kyle. Now he has an opportunity to show that he can succeed on his own, rather than being viewed as just a guy running Kyle's system. The issues with Chris Hill and the contracts being offered to assistant coaches also played a big part in his decision, but the way Utah recruits LDS players never played a part in it.
And now I'm done with this conversation.