This article originally appeared in the Resolutions print issue, in stands February 2026. It has not been updated and some information may be out of date.
In the University of Utah’s storied football history, teams have achieved conference championships, New Year’s Six bowl victories, perfect seasons and much more. There is still one thing missing from the list, however: a national championship.
After Kyle Whittingham walked out the door, another man took over; his name is Morgan Scalley. As a child, Scalley attended countless games, dreaming of becoming a player for his beloved Utes. He achieved that goal, etching his name in the history books as a star safety from 2001 to 2004. “I always wanted to play here because of my Dad. I was coming to games and running through the tunnels. I had my Little League jersey on, so I could get in for free. I’m a fan, I’m a Ute. I have been and forever will be,” Scalley said.
Intro to coaching
After his playing career was over, Scalley’s dream shifted to coaching. He couldn’t let go of the thing he loved most, football. Thanks to his immense knowledge of the game, the coaching staff at Utah happily hired him as an administrative assistant in 2006. From there, Scalley’s hard work and attention to detail allowed him to climb the coaching ranks quickly.
Now that Scalley has scaled to the top of the coaching ladder, the focus once again has shifted. What’s next on the list? Bringing the University of Utah a national championship in football. “The state of Utah football has just gotten better and better and better. The goal now is to play in January and win the national championship. I’m not ashamed to say that. We can do it here at the University of Utah. We’re going to do it here, I’ve always believed that,” Scalley said.
Utah’s 24th head coach understands that it won’t be easy to make that dream a reality. In an evolving collegiate athletics landscape, teams like Indiana have proved that a non-blue-blood program can run the table and claim the trophy. With an already established culture and supportive fanbase, Utah is set up well to do so. “I hope everyone understands what it’s going to take to get there. It’s going to take all of us, and then some. I’m grateful for young men who buy in and want to be a part of a legacy. We are going to be smashmouth. We are going to score. We are going to play great defense. I’m going to pour everything that I have into this program,” Scalley said.
Scalley’s support staff
Not only does Scalley believe he can make this dream become a reality, but so do Utah athletics director Mark Harlan and University President Taylor Randall. The strong belief in the former defensive coordinator is the main reason he was named “head coach in waiting” over a year ago.
“When we talk about a Utah man and the attributes, it’s hard to imagine somebody as uniquely equipped and suited for this role as Morgan Scalley. He has proven over and over again that he is not only prepared and ready to be here but will excel in taking over our storied football program,” Harlan said.
Boosters have already shown massive support for Scalley. Utah is going all in on athletics, and the administration recognizes the importance of doing so. Fans, families, former players, current players, coaches, staff, donors and many other people involved at the University have shown loyalty to the football program and believe in Scalley to run with the opportunity.
“Utah football is woven into the fabric of our community. We are thrilled that today, one of our own, Morgan Scalley, has stepped up and is going to be our new head football coach. Morgan shares our values, he shares our history and even more importantly, he’s got the brains and know-how to succeed in this new era of college athletics. I am confident that we have the right man for the job at the right time,” Randall said.
Reason for optimism
It is always a great day to be a Ute, but now is an especially adequate time to feel optimistic. Utah will return a plethora of key pieces for the 2026-27 season, including Devon Dampier, Wayshawn Parker and Byrd Ficklin.
“[Morgan] loves the University of Utah, and the bond runs deep throughout his family for generations. I’ve had the opportunity over my eight years here to witness how Morgan leads young men and mentors them. He handles success and adversity at an elite level. He is always prepared, organized and leads with confidence,” Harlan said.
Morgan Scalley lives and breathes Utah football. If anybody is going to bring continued success to the program, it’s him. As always, Go Utes!
