Utah’s Kyle Whittingham is unsure if he will return to coach the program in 2025 for a 21st season as head football coach.
Whittingham spoke about his future during his press conference on Monday.
“I’ll obviously evaluate after the season is over and see what the situation is,” Whittingham said. “My decision will be made based on what is best for the program, not what is best for me. It will be determined entirely based on how I believe this program can best be served in the future.”
Whittingham, 65, has been the head coach at Utah since 2005. He joined the program in 1994 and previously served as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator. He took over as head coach in 2005 after Urban Meyer led the Utes to back-to-back Mountain West championships, including a 12-0 campaign in 2004 that concluded with a victory over Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl.
Meyer left Utah for Florida, leaving the program in Whittingham’s hands. Twenty seasons later, Whittingham is tied with Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy as the second-longest coach in college football, behind Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz (26 years).
Whittingham has coached the Utes to a 166-86 record, including seven seasons with 10-plus wins and 17 seasons with a winning record. He coached Utah to another undefeated season in a 13-0 campaign in 2008 that ended with a Sugar Bowl victory over Alabama.
Utah was not selected to play in that year’s BCS championship game, in which Florida defeated Oklahoma for the national title. The Utes finished No. 2 in the final AP poll behind Florida (13-1), despite securing the only undefeated season in the FBS.
Utah took a step back this season and enters Saturday’s season finale against UCF with a 4-7 record and a seven-game losing streak. The Utes are 1-7 in Big 12 play in their first season in the conference. Whenever Whittingham decides to step down, a succession plan has been put in place.
Defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley is the designated head coach and is expected to take over when Whittingham retires. Whittingham addressed Scalley’s role should he decide to return for another season.
“I can tell you right now that Coach Scalley will be involved in future decisions,” Whittingham said. “It’s only right that he does that because he is the coach waiting. And when that time comes, we will make sure he has had input into big decisions.”
“It’s going to be a team effort when it comes to hiring and things like that.”
