Utah taps DC Scalley as Whittingham’s successor

Pete Thamel, ESPNJul 1, 2024, 12:23 PM ET The University of Utah officially called protective planner Morgan Scalley as the follower to longtime football coach Kyle Whittingham, the school revealed Monday.While no retirement date has actually been set for Whittingham, Scalley’s most recent agreement calls for him to end up being the school’s next coach whenever Whittingham decides to step down.The contract includes a starting wage for Scalley of

a minimum of$5 million annually if he rises at the end of the 2024 season, per the agreement. That number increases by $100,000 each subsequent year, peaking at $5.4 million after Jan. 16, 2028. Editor’s Picks Scalley, who was a star player at the school, is entering his 17th season on the Utah staff.”Undoubtedly, this is

a program that’s constantly indicated the world to me,”Scalley told ESPN.”I played here, matured going to games here. I enjoy this program and where it’s headed, and I have a great deal of regard for the coaches that have made it what is. “There’s no conclusive timeline set for Whittingham to step down. He turns 65 in November. He’s entering his 20th season as head

coach and is the all-time winningest coach( 162-79)in school history.The legal formalization of Scalley as the next Utah coach marks the second time that athletic director Mark Harlan has actually designated Scalley in such a function.

In July 2020, the school rescinded that title, which had actually been consented to months before, and cut his wage by majority to$ 525,000 each year after an outside investigation into his usage of a racial slur in a text 7 years earlier.An outside law firm review talked to 35 people and found a bulk of former players were amazed at the reports and had a favorable relationship with Scalley. As part of his agreement to return to the staff, Scalley has participated in regular and continuous diversity and inclusion education. “I harm a lot of individuals and found out so much, “Scalley said. “Education leads to understanding, and that causes compassion and significant action. I believe sometimes to truly know where you stand, you need to strike your personal all-time low. I’m grateful that [Harlan] and the administration worked with me through that difficult time. I’m particularly grateful to the players, who revealed so much love and grace.”Scalley is entering his ninth season as Utah’s defensive coordinator, and the agreement likewise includes a raise that will pay him $2 million in 2024, which puts him amongst the highest paid coordinators in the sport.

He’s slated to make$2.1 million in 2025 and $2.2 million in 2026 as the defensive planner, per the brand-new contract, if Whittingham is still the head coach. He made$ 1.5 million in 2023. He has actually earned a reputation as one of the best coordinators in the country, as USC revealed interest in hiring him last year and Texas, Oregon and Florida were among programs that expressed interest in prior years.Scalley said he’s elated that Utah has actually reciprocated his commitment, crediting president Taylor Randall, Harlan and Whittingham for bringing him along.”I simply can’t state adequate about how [Whittingham] has mentored me and believed in me,”Scalley stated.

“I have actually put a lot of time and sacrifice into this journey and am thrilled for the journey that’s ahead and appreciative for the administration’s belief in me and our

vision moving forward.”The relocation by Utah does not come as a surprise, as seen by the school’s legal relocations. After having his pay cut to $525,000 in 2020, the school boosted Scalley’s income to a reported$ 1.1 million in 2021 and after that $1.4 million in 2022. The agreement in 2022 consisted of both a rollover and a considerable buyout without any offset clause–$4.2 million– that would have made it costly for Utah to bring in a coach from the outside.The school stated in its press release that the brand-new work arrangement it revealed Monday was signed Nov. 23, 2023.” Coach Whittingham and I both highly think that future lies with Morgan Scalley,”Harlan stated in the declaration. “Morgan has played a critical function in our success through his embodiment of

our core worths and his leadership, and I have witnessed first-hand his development as a coach and as an individual over the last a number of years.” Scalley’s consistent success caused the outside interest, including authoring the nation’s No. 2 overall defense in 2019. Utah has had the Pac-12’s leading rush defense 5 times in the previous eight years.” There’s some things you simply can’t put a price on,”Scalley said.”My household is entrenched in Salt Lake City, and we have actually proven we can win at a high level

where we’re located. I constantly stated if offered the opportunity, I would never ever leave. I have actually been true to that. “Throughout his time at Utah, Scalley starred in the Mountain West as a player, has coached in that league and the totality of Utah’s stint in the Pac-12. He will collaborate the defense in the Huge 12 next year. He has likewise been the program’s special teams coach, hiring coordinator and has actually coached the securities since being hired full-time in 2008. Scalley acted as a senior

captain on Utah’s 12-0 2004 group that blew out Pittsburgh in the Feast Bowl and completed No. 4 in the nation under Urban Meyer.” The university has been where I have actually invested the majority of my life, so I wish to be able to return and continue the tradition and give the neighborhood and the state something to be fired up about,”he said.” You can hire here, you can win here and it’s home.”Utah is considered the preferred to win the Huge 12 in 2024– the Utes return 8 beginners on a defense that finished in the top 15 in overall defense last season. Scalley stated he sees the program as having the ability to one day win the national title.” I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe so,”he said.”We can hire and especially in your area, you got to be able to recruit linemen and you can do it locally. We’ve shown the ability to go out to Texas, to Florida, to California and get skill players. And we’ve got a fan base that’s enthusiastic about winning, and you can do it in Salt Lake City.”