Kyle Whittingham Signs Extension Through 2023
Mar 4, 2019, 9:47 AM | Updated: 10:56 am
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The University of Utah announced that they have signed head football coach Kyle Whittingham to a contract extension through 2023.
Utah football is coming off of a 2018 season where they won the Pac-12 South Division for the first time since joining the conference in 2011. They lost to Washington in the conference championship game.
“Coach Whittingham is one of the top coaches in college football and extending his contract was a high priority in my first year here,” said Utah Director of Athletics Mark Harlan. “Kyle’s teams compete for championships on the field and in the classroom, and his loyalty to the University of Utah has made this a great partnership.”
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Whittingham is the longest-tenured head coach in the Pac-12 and the third longest at the same school in NCAA FBS. The long-time head coach is entering his 15th season at the helm for the Utes. He has compiled a 120-61 record. His 84.6 percent success rate (11-2 record) in bowl games is second in NCAA history and his win total is tied for second among active coaches in college football.
“On behalf of our entire coaching staff, we are grateful to both Mark Harlan and President Ruth Watkins for this vote of confidence in our football program,” said Whittingham. “The University’s support is critical to our long-term success and this sends a positive message to our recruits, which are the lifeblood of any program.”
Through 2023#Consistency https://t.co/o7VnJiAxVV pic.twitter.com/6xNuHz08Vy
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) March 4, 2019
In the classroom, the student-athletes under Whittingham’s leadership has achieved success academically. Utah has the best NCAA Graduation success rate in the Pac-12 in the latest report. In 2018, the Utes set a new school record for fall semester GPA with a 2.925 cumulative average.
Whittingham joined the football program in 1994 as an assistant coach before being promoted to defensive coordinator the following year. On December 8, 2004, he became the Utes 20th head coach. His first win was when he was co-head coach with Urban Meyer in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl.
Among the long list of achievements for the football program, Utah has appeared in every College Football Playoff ranking in the first three years of the new system and have finished in the top 25 four times.
One of the most successful seasons under Whittingham was in 2008, when the Utes beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl to cap off a perfect 13-0 season.
