Utah Football Enjoying Stability Within Coaching Staff
Mar 17, 2022, 2:15 PM
SALT LAKE CITY – For how much success Utah Football has had over recent years, its coaching staff has remained relatively intact.
Since 2018, Utah has appeared in three Pac-12 Championships over the last four years with 2020 being the only year they missed out, the same year that the COVID-19 pandemic took control of the world as we once knew it.
Furthermore, besides replacing Troy Taylor with Andy Ludwig in January of 2019, the core of Utah’s coaching staff has remained stable. Kyle Whittingham has led the Utes since 2006 and Morgan Scalley has acted as the defensive coordinator since 2016 taking over from Kalani Sitake who ventured up to Oregon State before finding the head coaching role at BYU.
Top PAC-12 Defensive Coordinators for 2022:
1. Morgan Scalley (Utah)
2. Alex Grinch (USC)
3. Tosh Lupoi (Oregon)
4. William Inge (UW)
5. Peter Sirmon (Cal)6-12 and analysis ⤵️ https://t.co/jOqhAIj4f7
— WestCoastCFB.com (@WestCoastCFB) February 27, 2022
For as much success as Utah has found, you would think other schools would look to poach specific members of the coaching staff. But that has not happened.
Why?
Justin Ena, Guy Holliday, Sione Po’uha, and Kiel McDonald have departed the program and that is all.
Utah’s stability is a credit to the leadership within the Athletic Department, specifically Athletic Director Mark Harlan who has devoted a lot of time and effort to maintaining an anchored football staff.
The work done by head coach Kyle Whittingham must also be recognized. Whittingham’s patience and trust have been paramount in keeping the staff together. Don’t be fooled, it has not always been like this for Whittingham and Utah. Following Taylor’s departure following the 2018 season, Andy Ludwig’s arrival marked the 9th play-caller in the past 11 seasons for Whittingham and the Utes.
Looking to get into coaching? Tip number 1: don’t turn your back on the action.
The final home edit from @SafetyPride features the Utah Football Coaching Staff. pic.twitter.com/QNXRWDAiYc
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) April 23, 2020
RELATED STORIES
Over the previous five years, Utah has established itself as an annual Pac-12 contender competing with the likes of USC and Oregon on the recruiting trail. Success on the field and stability within the locker room leads to long-term success.
For Utah, their aspirations continue to grow with every year of continued success.
Now, can Utah continue its trajectory by securing a Rose Bowl victory or a College Football Playoff appearance in 2022? Just how much momentum was gained through the exposure of competing in one of the more entertaining Rose Bowl games of late? We will soon find out.
