After the recent announcement of Kyle Whittingham stepping down as head coach, Morgan Scalley is preparing to take the helm for the Utah Utes in the upcoming Las Vegas Bowl. Scalley, who has served as the defensive coordinator, will make his coaching debut on New Year”s Eve against Nebraska.
Originally slated to begin his head coaching journey in September 2026, Scalley”s timeline has accelerated due to Whittingham”s acceptance of a position at Michigan. “I”m fired up. I”m excited. I mean, there”s going to be learning on the go. At the same time, I have complete trust in our coaching staff and our players. They”re locked in. They”re dialed in,” Scalley expressed in Las Vegas.
During a team meeting, Scalley noted the determination of the players to conclude the season positively. He highlighted the significance of achieving eleven wins, a feat that has only been accomplished three times in the history of University of Utah football. “We want to make that four,” he emphasized.
Prior to Whittingham”s announcement, the Utes had only three opt-outs from their two-deep depth chart, including offensive tackles Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu, as well as defensive end Logan Fano, all of whom are preparing for the 2026 NFL Draft. Scalley indicated he did not anticipate any further changes to the roster ahead of the bowl game, citing that the players were aware of the transition.
Senior offensive tackle Jaren Kump expressed his support for Scalley, stating his eagerness to secure a victory for his new coach. “I”m really happy for Coach Whitt, honestly, and I”m really happy for him to have this opportunity, but I”m also excited to be coached by Morgan Scalley and I”m going to tell our team “Let”s go get Coach Scalley”s first win on Wednesday,”” Kump said.
Scalley took a moment to reflect on Whittingham”s impact on his career. “You never want to be the guy that follows the guy and unfortunately that”s me, but he got me into the profession. He got me to switch from offense to defense as a player. I”ve been with him since 2001,” Scalley remarked, expressing his gratitude for Whittingham”s mentorship and legacy.
Reports suggest that Whittingham informed the team of his decision to join Michigan shortly before heading to Orlando for the Citrus Bowl. Kump mentioned that Whittingham initially intended to retire but reconsidered upon the emergence of new opportunities.
As Scalley focuses on preparing for the bowl game, he is also in the process of assembling his coaching staff. Meanwhile, reports indicate that offensive coordinator Jason Beck and BYU defensive coordinator Jay Hill are potential targets for Whittingham”s staff at Michigan. Scalley, however, remains focused on achieving that coveted eleventh win for the Utes.
“A lot of it is understanding it”s all about the players. We”ve got an unbelievable staff that”s handled this thing the right way and their intent as well is to get that 11th win for our players, so it”s been a pretty seamless transition,” Scalley concluded.
