Morgan Scalley Reinstated As Defensive Coordinator Following Investigation Into 2013 Racial Slur

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah Football defensive coordinator has been reinstated by the University of Utah following an investigation into his use of a racial slur back in 2013.

Scalley, 40, admitted to using a racial slur to a recruit back in 2013. An investigation by a third party ensued, the results returned and the University announced that the findings of the investigation did not warrant Scalley to be fired for cause.

“In 2013 I made a terrible mistake. I used a racial slur in a text message. This language is offensive and hurtful to not only the African-American community, but to all. Immediately after sending it, I apologized to the recipient and his family,” Scalley said in a statement on June 5. “I am also heartbroken over the potential breach of trust with my fellow coaches, and with the young men in our program, both past and present.”

Morgan Scalley has been reinstated. More coming at https://t.co/XHWR2nxhC0.#GoUtes @kslsports

— Trevor Allen (@TrevorASports) July 1, 2020

On Wednesday, Utah announced that Morgan Scalley will remain with the team. But in a letter from Utah Athletics Director Mark Harlan, he put the following stipulations to Scalley’s return.

1) Coach Scalley will engage with leadership of the University’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion team, including Vice President Mary Ann Villarreal. He will participate in regular and ongoing diversity and inclusion education, and will be expected to be a key partner in addressing issues of racism and bias in the Utah Athletics Department, the University and the broader community.

2) In December 2019, the University and Coach Scalley verbally agreed to a multi-year extension of his contract, increasing his annual compensation to $1.1 million. Instead, his new contract will revert to his 2018 compensation level in the form of a one-year term for $525,000.

3) In December 2019, Director of Athletics Mark Harlan extended a verbal offer to Coach Scalley to become the Head Coach In-Waiting, which Harlan has now rescinded.

Scalley returns for his 13th year as an assistant coach under head coach Kyle Whittingham. He has been acting as Utah’s defensive coordinator since 2016 when former defensive coordinator and current BYU head coach Kalani Sitake left the program to take the same role at Oregon State.

Scalley is widely speculated to be the next head coach of the University of Utah following Kyle Whittingham’s coaching career. Scalley signed a new contract with the University earlier this year that officially extended his timeframe with the Utah program.

The contract extension came during a time when Scalley was speculated to be getting head coaching opportunities elsewhere. In 2019, the Utah defense ranked second in the country, only behind Ohio State, in total defense.

Utah’s defense in 2020 will attempt to replace nine starters following a 2020 NFL Draft that saw six Utah defenders drafted.

The first game on the 2020 season schedule for Utah is a blockbuster encounter with arch-rivals Bringham Young University on September 3rd at Rice Eccles Stadium. Utah will be vying for its 10th consecutive victory over the Cougars.

Tom Hackett is a Utah and Real Salt Lake Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the It’s Utah’s World Podcast (Utah Football themed) and The Lion’s Den Podcast (Real Salt Lake themed). Follow him on Twitter: @TomCantHackett.