Whittingham supporters for Utah coach-in-waiting

• Adam Rittenberg, ESPN Senior WriterJul 9, 2024, 03:52 PM ET

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  • College football reporter.
  • Joined ESPN.com in 2008.
  • Graduate of Northwestern University.LAS VEGAS– Utah

coach Kyle Whittingham expects a “smooth shift” with protective organizer Morgan Scalley, named last week as the Utes’ coach-in-waiting, although no date has actually been set for Whittingham to step aside.Whittingham, who has actually led

Utah given that 2005 and is the nation’s second-longest tenured coach behind Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz, stated his decision about when to retire is “everyday, not even year to year. “He’s 162-79 at the school and has won 3 league titles– two Pac-12, one Mountain West– as the Utes prepare for their first season in the Big 12.”As soon as I lose my enthusiasm and my energy for it,

then you need to step aside,”Whittingham told ESPN.” I missed a lot of my kids growing up, and I do not want to do the exact same thing to my grandkids. I wish to be there and be involved. “Whittingham has 10 grandchildren ranging from 3 months to 8 years of ages. He has formerly stated he would not coach beyond age 65, and he turns 65 on Nov. 21. Scalley, 44, played defensive back at Utah when Whittingham served as a Utes assistant, and has actually invested his entire coaching profession at his alma mater, acting as defensive organizer considering that 2016.”Morgan Scalley is a Utah guy, through and through,” Whittingham stated.

“He’s been in the program for nearly as long as I have. He’s done a terrific job as an assistant coach and as an organizer, and it’s, to me, going to be a smooth transition. We have actually had a lot of excellent coaches on our personnel that will be head coaches some day, but for right now, when that shift takes place, Morgan is the option.”Editor’s Picks 2 Associated Despite getting in a new conference from the Pac-12, Utah is the preseason media favorite to win the Big 12. The Utes return starting quarterback Webcam Rising and standout tight end Brant Kuithe from injury, and have a powerful front seven on defense that consists of all-conference players Junior Tafuna and Karene Reid. Rising, who missed out on all of last season after tearing several knee ligaments in the Rose Bowl, informed ESPN that he’s fully healthy and able to play without a knee brace.Utah is seeking its first College Football Playoff appearance as the field broadens to 12 teams this fall.”The state that our program is at, we’re playing for champions,”Whittingham stated. “That’s our objective each and every year and as long as I’m here, that’s not going to change.

And the beauty of this now is, if you win your championship game, you’re in the playoffs, you do not need to have some committee vote you in. You remain in. “Utah’s arrival in the Huge 12 a year after BYU’s means that their match, referred to as the Holy War, will end up being a conference game for the first time because 2010, when both were members of the Mountain West. BYU won the teams’ last conference in 2021, ending Utah’s nine-game winning streak.The Utes will host the Cougars on Nov. 9.” Undoubtedly, the fans and everything would make it a huge offer, and I have absolutely nothing versus the players, simply the program, “Kuithe stated.” I would not really call it a rivalry as much, just because it’s so one-sided.”