Utah Football Coach Kyle Whittingham Steps Down After 21 Years

The 2025 college football season marks a significant transition for the Utah Utes, as head coach Kyle Whittingham has announced his decision to step down after 21 years. This news comes as the Utes prepare for the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl, scheduled for December 31, where they will face the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Whittingham’s departure highlights a broader trend in college football, with at least 17 Power Four programs expected to have new coaches in 2026.

Morgan Scalley, who has served as Utah’s defensive coordinator since 2016, will take over as the head coach. Scalley played as a defensive back for the Utes from 2001 to 2004 and has been a part of the coaching staff since 2007. His promotion follows a tenure that has seen the Utes consistently compete at a high level.

Whittingham’s coaching career at Utah is marked by impressive achievements. He led the team to a record of 117-88 overall, including a Mountain West Conference championship in 2008 and four Pac-12 South division titles. Under his leadership, Utah secured Pac-12 conference championships in both 2021 and 2022. His annual salary of $6.9 million placed him among the highest-paid coaches in college football, ranking him 33rd nationally.

Having played linebacker at Brigham Young University (BYU) and coaching at various institutions, including BYU, Eastern Utah, and Idaho State, Whittingham joined the Utes as a defensive line coach in 1994. He quickly made his mark, serving as defensive coordinator for a decade before being promoted to head coach in 2005.

During his time with the Utes, Whittingham became one of the longest-tenured coaches in college football. Following the departure of Gary Patterson from TCU in 2021, he became the second-longest tenured coach in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), behind Kirk Ferentz at Iowa.

In 2025, Whittingham achieved his eighth season with at least 10 wins, despite facing challenges during the regular season. The Utes’ losses included a game against Big 12 champion and No. 4 seed Texas Tech and a narrow defeat to BYU in the rivalry game known as the Holy War.

The upcoming bowl game will be a farewell for Whittingham, who has significantly shaped the Utes’ football program over the years. Reports from Stewart Mandel of The Athletic suggest that despite stepping down, the 66-year-old Whittingham may still be considering other coaching opportunities within college football.

As the Utes transition to a new head coach, the focus now shifts to the potential impact of Scalley’s leadership and how he will carry forward the legacy established by Whittingham. The future of Utah football remains bright as they look to build on their recent successes in the competitive landscape of college football.