Put Respect On His Name, Kyle Whittingham Is One Of The Best Coaches In The Game
Dec 3, 2022, 2:15 PM
Head coach Kyle Whittingham (L) and quarterback Cameron Rising #7 of the Utah Utes celebrate the team's 38-10 victory over the Oregon Ducks to win the Pac-12 Conference championship game at Allegiant Stadium on December 3, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS- It’s time we start putting respect on head Utah football coach Kyle Whittingham’s name. Sure, everyone in Utah is aware of what Whittingham brings to the table, but it needs to be more of a conversation on a national scale because he’s truly one of the best in the game.
There is no one who wins at a high level, graduates his players at a high level, and has accountability throughout his program at a high level like Whittingham and the Utes.
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It’s also rare to find a guy willing to put in almost 30 total years with the same team. This is partially due to how volatile the industry is when results aren’t met and partially because the good ones rarely WANT to stay somewhere that long. Greener pastures and such.
Trust, Whittingham isn’t still at Utah because no one wanted him. He’s been approached many times over the years by teams who could pay more than Utah could.
Whittingham is still at Utah because he had a vision for what it could be and felt like he could get it there. Thankfully for the Utes, the university seemed to share Whittingham’s same vision and so they set out together on this adventure.
Respect Kyle Whittingham, The Utah Man
Whittingham began his career at Utah in 1994 as a defensive line coach (for reference’s sake he’s coached guys who are now in their 50’s), moving over to the “enemy” after his playing days at BYU were over. From there Whittingham moved up to defensive coordinator and then head coach after Urban Meyer took the Florida job in 2005.
Whittingham has helped the Utes move unimaginable mountains through his decades up on the hill. From “Original BCS Busters” to new Pac-12 members, gut-wrenching tragedy, and now back-to-back Pac-12 Champions and Rose Bowl appearances, Whittingham has seen it all with the Utes, building the house brick by brick while few were paying attention.
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Now Utah is in a place where the brand is being recognized and people are intrigued by it. Many seem surprised by what feels like the Utes’ sudden emergence on the national scene, but those in Salt Lake City and especially the thousands of players and coaches Whittingham has come into contact with over the years knew it was just a matter of time.
He’s Been Here Too Long For People Not To Talk About Him
After Utah’s impressive 47-24 beatdown of No. 4 USC for the Pac-12 Title, quarterback Cam Rising and running back Ja’Quinden Jackson were asked if their head coach should get more national respect than he does. The answer was an emphatic “yes”.
“YES! YES! Most definitely,” Jackson said. “I don’t know why it’s not, but back-to-back Pac-12 Championships? Come on now. He’s been here too long for people not to be talking about him. He’s one of the best coaches I’ve ever been around. It’s time.”
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WOW. I love this team!! pic.twitter.com/RqiTinXUTa
— Kyle Whittingham (@UtahCoachWhitt) December 3, 2022
“He’s one of the most winning coaches in the Pac-12 and the most winning coach at Utah,” Rising continued on the topic. “He’s been doing something right and he’s been tenured there for so long that you’ve got to be doing something right if you’re there for that long. He’s just a great coach and going back-to-back I think he’s moving up on that list for sure.”
Michelle Bodkin is the Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of both the Crimson Corner Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and The Saturday Show (Saturday from 10 a.m.–12 p.m.) on The KSL Sports Zone. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @BodkinKSLsports
