Utah’s Kyle Whittingham is unsure if he will return to coach the program for a 21st season as head football coach in 2025.
Whittingham spoke about his future at his press conference on Monday.
“Obviously I’ll evaluate it after the season is over, see what the situation is,” Whittingham said. “My decision will be made on what’s best for the program, not what’s best for me. It will be decided entirely on how I think this program will best be served going forward.”
Whittingham, 65, has been Utah’s head coach since 2005. He joined the program in 1994 and previously served as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator. He took over as head coach in 2005 after Urban Meyer led the Utes to back-to-back Mountain West championships, including a 12-0 campaign in 2004 that ended with a victory over Pittsburgh in the Fiesta Bowl.
Meyer left Utah for Florida, leaving the program in Whittingham’s hands. Twenty seasons later, Whittingham is tied with Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy as the second-longest tenured coach in college football behind Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz (26 years).
Whittingham coached the Utes to a 166-86 record, including seven 10-plus win seasons and 17 winning seasons. He coached Utah to another undefeated season in a 13-0 campaign in 2008 that ended with a Sugar Bowl victory over Alabama.
Utah was not selected to play in this year’s BCS Championship, in which Florida defeated Oklahoma for the national title. The Utes finished No. 2 in the final AP poll behind Florida (13-1), despite securing their only undefeated season in the FBS.
Utah has taken a step back this season and enters Saturday’s season finale against UCF with a 4-7 record and a seven-game losing streak. The Utes are 1-7 in conference play in their first season in the Big 12. Whenever Whittingham decides to leave, a succession plan is in place.
Defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley is the designated head coach-in-waiting and is expected to take over whenever Whittingham retires. Whittingham addressed Scalley’s role should he decide to return for another season.
“I can tell you now that coach Scalley will be involved in the decisions going forward,” Whittingham said. “It’s only right that he does because he’s the coach-in-waiting. And when that time comes, we’ll make sure he’s had input into the big decisions.”
“It’s going to be a team effort in terms of recruiting and things like that.”