Morgan Scalley has officially been appointed as the new head coach of the Utah Utes football program, succeeding Kyle Whittingham. Scalley, who has been part of the Utes” coaching staff for two decades, expressed his excitement about this long-awaited opportunity.
At 46 years old, Scalley has dedicated his professional life to the Utes, first being named the team”s “head coach in waiting” in 2019. Following Whittingham”s announcement of his retirement, Scalley shared his gratitude and enthusiasm for continuing his journey with the program. “Being a part of the Utah Football Program was a childhood dream of mine that has turned into an incredible 25-year journey that I am blessed to say is continuing,” he stated in a recent announcement.
Scalley credited his family for their support throughout his career, particularly his wife, Liz, and their three children. He acknowledged the mentorship he received from coaches who shaped his approach to the game. “I am forever indebted to him for believing in me and giving me opportunity after opportunity to grow in this profession,” Scalley remarked, referencing Whittingham”s influence on his career.
Having served as the Utes” defensive coordinator since 2016, Scalley has a wealth of experience under his belt. Mark Harlan, Utah”s Athletic Director, described Scalley as “uniquely equipped” to lead the program forward, emphasizing his deep understanding of what makes Utah football special.
Born in Salt Lake City, Scalley was a standout safety at Highland High School before playing for the Utes, where he was a four-year letterman and captain of the undefeated 2004 Fiesta Bowl team. He earned recognition as co-Mountain West defensive player of the year and was named a second-team AP All-American that season.
Scalley”s playing days were marked by his intensity and leadership. His former coach, Urban Meyer, recognized him as a player who consistently held himself accountable, demonstrating a rare level of self-motivation. “When Morgan made a mistake, Urban wasn”t really extra hard on him,” said Jay Hill, a former graduate assistant during Scalley”s playing career. “You knew Morgan was already going to be hard on himself.”
After graduating magna cum laude with a degree in business in 2004 and obtaining a master”s in business administration in 2006, Scalley joined the Utes” coaching staff as an administrative assistant. He steadily progressed through the ranks, taking on roles as a graduate assistant, safeties coach, and special teams coordinator before becoming the defensive coordinator.
His journey, however, faced challenges when he was stripped of his “head coach in waiting” title after a controversial investigation regarding a past racist text message. Scalley admitted to using the slur but denied some allegations from the report. Following this incident, Harlan reduced his salary and contract. Despite this setback, Scalley focused on personal growth, studying Black American history to better himself.
Whittingham expressed confidence in Scalley”s ability to transition into the head coach role seamlessly when the time came. “He knows our culture inside and out,” Whittingham stated, assuring fans that Scalley would uphold the program”s values while implementing his vision for the future.
As the Utes prepare for the next chapter under Scalley”s leadership, the Utah football community looks forward to seeing how he will build upon the foundation laid by Whittingham and continue the program”s legacy of success.
