Whether or not Kyle Whittingham returns for his 21st season as Utah’s coach next year remains to be seen.
The longtime Utah head coach was asked Monday about his future leading the program in 2025 as the Utes (4-7, 1-7) prepare to wrap up a thoroughly disappointing season Friday on the road at Central Florida.
“I will obviously evaluate after the season’s over, see what the situation is, but my decision will be made based on what’s best for the program, not what’s best for me,” Whittingham said. “It’ll be completely determined on how I feel this program is best served going forward.”
Utah defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley has been named coach-in-waiting since last November and will assume the head coach position whenever Whittingham decides to retire. He’s currently the second-longest tenured head coach in college football — tied with Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy at 19 years — behind Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz (25 years).
Last week, Whittingham said he is working with Scalley regarding the impending offensive coordinator hire. Utah’s veteran offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig resigned on Oct. 20 amidst the program’s season-long struggles on offense.
For the first time since 2013, Utah will not be bowl-bound. No matter the outcome of Friday’s regular-season finale in Orlando, Fla., 2024 will be Utah’s third losing campaign in 20 years under Whittingham. The Utes were the preseason favorite to win the Big 12 Conference but are currently mired in the longest losing streak since 1986 having dropped seven straight after starting 4-0.
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Utah’s abysmal offensive numbers in 2024 have been driven largely by the bizarre set of injuries that beset the quarterback position. Utah will start its fifth-string quarterback, Luke Bottari, at UCF on Friday night after yet another season-ending injury to a Utah QB. True freshman Isaac Wilson left Utah’s 31-28 loss to Iowa State in the second half with a knee injury. Wilson is the latest Utah quarterback to be lost for the season after starter Cam Rising and backups Brandon Rose and Sam Huard suffered season-ending injuries throughout the fall.
Asked Monday about the potential timing of his decision with the offensive coordinator search still ongoing and the transfer portal opening on Dec. 9, Whittingham said he didn’t have an exact timeline.
“Can’t tell you, for sure,” he said. “We’ll sit down and evaluate everything. I can tell you right now that Coach Scalley will be involved with decisions going forward. It’s only right he does that because he’s the coach-in-waiting and when that time comes, we need to make sure he’s had input on big decisions. It’ll be a team effort in that respect going forward as far as hiring and recruiting.”
Whittingham, who turned 65 last week, said he “still has plenty of gas in the tank” but will not only take a hard look at the state of the program after the season ends but understands the perfect ending to a coaching career is rarely achieved.
“To time it just right so you can go out at just the right time, there is a very, very small percentage of people who are able to do that,” he said. “So, again, I’m not saying, ‘Well, this was a bad year for me, so I’ve got to come back and have a better year.’ Everyone wants to have a better year next year regardless of who the coach is.”
(Photo: Chris Gardner / Getty Images)
