Potential Offensive Coordinator Candidates For Kyle Whittingham
Dec 17, 2018, 1:46 PM | Updated: 2:19 pm
Head coach Kyle Whittingham of the Utah Utes looks on against the Washington Huskies at Husky Stadium on November 18, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
(Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – After the news of offensive coordinator Troy Taylor leaving the program to be the next head coach at Sacramento State, Utah has now lost three assistant coaches to other positions in December.
Utah has already named Sione Po’uha as a defensive line coach, replacing Gary Andersen after he went to Utah State to be the head coach of the Aggies.
Andersen took linebackers Coach Justin Ena with him to be the defensive coordinator.
Potential Candidates For Offensive Coordinator
Whittingham has some time to find the next play caller for his offense with Taylor staying on staff until after the Holiday Bowl on December 31.
Mike McCoy, Former Utah Quarterback
Head coach Steve Wilks and offensive coordinator Mike McCoy (left) of the Arizona Cardinals watch the action during the third quarter against the Denver Broncos at State Farm Stadium on October 18, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The former Ute has been without an NFL job since October 19 when he was fired as the offensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals.
McCoy has never had a coaching job in college football but after being fired from his last two teams as offensive coordinator – Arizona and Denver – does he think about coaching in the college ranks?
No better place to do it than his alma mater where he was quarterback. He was a starter for two seasons from 1993-94 and tallied 7,404 passing yards and 49 touchdowns.
McCoy has a ton of experience in the NFL as he started coaching in 2000 with the Carolina Panthers. He has been an offensive coordinator for eight seasons and a head coach for three years in San Diego.
Brian Johnson, Florida Quarterback Coach
Quarterback Brian Johnson #3 of the Utah Utes looks to pass the ball during the game against the Michigan Wolverines on August 30, 2008 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Johnson already served as the offensive coordinator for the Utes from 2012-13 before joining former Utah coach Dan Mullen in Mississippi State as the quarterbacks coach from 2014-16.
He went closer to home for the 2017 season as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Houston Cougars.
When Mullen accepted the head coaching position in Florida, he brought Johnson with him to coach the quarterbacks.
Being an offensive coordinator again and for his alma mater might intrigue Johnson to return to Salt Lake City.
Jim Harding, Utah Offensive Line Coach
Jim Harding directs during warmup for a University of Utah Football scrimmage in Salt Lake City, Friday, April 4, 2014. (Ravell Call, Deseret News)
Harding was co-offensive coordinator with Aaron Roderick for two seasons from 2015-16 before being named associate head coach and offensive line coach.
He has been in the coaching business since 2002. He was a high school football coach in Michigan for three seasons.
If Whittingham wants to promote from within, Harding would be the top candidate as he has been with the Utes since 2014.
