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Utah Utes defensive coach Morgan Scalley watches the action during the 22 Forever game scrimmage in Salt Lake City on Saturday, April 13, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
There’s no doubt in Kyle Whittingahm’s mind that Morgan Scalley is the right person to take over as head coach at Utah after his retirement.
Last month, Utah publicly announced what had been official since November of last year, when Scalley signed a contract extension that restored his “head coach in waiting” title.
When Scalley will take over as the head coach, which will be the first head coaching change at Utah in two decades or more, is dependent on when Whittingham calls it a career.
Heading into a new conference, and a new challenge, for the third time as a head coach, the 64-year-old is as “excited and enthused about the season” as he’s ever been.
Speaking at Big 12 media days in Las Vegas last week, Whittingham said that it’s a “day by day” process for him, and Utah athletic director Mark Harlan said that “whenever he’s ready, he’ll let me know.”
When that day arrives is up to Whittingham, but he did offer somewhat of a timeframe, saying he would “probably won’t be sitting here” at Allegiant Stadium when the Utes open the 2027 season against Miami in Las Vegas.
That means that after this season, Scalley is likely just two years — or less — away from filling the giant shoes Whittingham will leave behind and inheriting his dream job.
Morgan Scalley, Sione Pouha and Alex Smith celebrate their victory in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, AZ., Jan 1, 2005. | Jeffrey D. Allred
‘A Utah guy’
There’s few that know football in the state of Utah as deeply as Scalley, who has spent all of his football life in Salt Lake City.
“First of all, Morgan Scalley is an exceptional football coach. He’s a proven…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/utah-guy-why-utah-feels-030017182.html
Author : Deseret News
Publish date : 2024-07-16 03:00:17
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