Kyle Whittingham announced Dec. 12 that he will be retiring as the head coach of Utah football following the Las Vegas Bowl vs. Nebraska on New Year’s Eve. 

Whittingham will retire as the winningest coach in Utah football history, sporting a 177-88 record in 21 seasons as head coach. His various accolades, everlasting impacts and strong example secure him as a legend of the University of Utah’s storied athletics past. 

In his career as Utah’s head coach, Whittingham was the recipient of the 2008 Mountain West Coach of the Year award, the Pac-12 Coach of the Year Award twice in 2019 and 2021, the 2008 AFCA and Bear Bryant Coach of the Year Award and the 2019 Dodd Trophy Coach of the Year Award. 

In addition to these personal awards, Whittingham led his teams to conference championship victories in 2008, 2021, and 2022. He currently owns an 11-6 bowl record and has notched eight separate 10+ win seasons. Over 120 players who have played under Whittingham have signed contracts in the NFL. 

To The Daily Utah Chronicle’s sports desk, Whittingham wasn’t just a coach at the University of Utah; he was a leader. He pushed teams through tragedies, molded boys into men and maintained the highest levels of class and respect through all the ups and downs. The Utah football family will miss Whittingham, but he may always stay close. 

Taking over as the future head coach of the Utes is Morgan Scalley. The former Utah player and current defensive coordinator has spent dozens of years with the program. 

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