Mark Harlan announces future succession plan for Utah football leadership

salt Lake City – University of Utah Athletics Director Mark Harlan shared that the University of Utah has entered into a new employment agreement with the Utah football defensive coordinator. Morgan Scally On November 23, 2023, Joe formally named Scally as the football program’s head coach-in-waiting. Scally is entering his 17th year on staff with the Utes under head coach kyle whittingham In 2024.

“Coach Whittingham has made Utah football one of the elite programs in the country through a strong culture, tradition and exceptional student-athletes, and he has been clear about his intentions to continue leading this incredible Utah football program Because we’re moving into the Big 12 conference and the newly expanded College Football Playoff,” Harlan said. “However, we must plan for the future, and Coach Whittingham and I both strongly believe that the future lies in Morgan Scally, Morgan has been instrumental to our success through our core values ​​and his leadership, and I have witnessed firsthand his growth as a coach and a person over the past several years. He is an exceptional coach who has been coached by the best – Coach Whittingham – and when the time comes for Morgan to take over, I have no doubt that our program will continue to be successful.

Utah’s winningest head coach of all-time, Whittingham will continue to lead the Utes into a new era as he enters his 20th season as head coach. Whittingham’s 10 assistant coaches have had an average tenure with the Utes of 7.4 seasons, the longest by any power conference staff, including Scally’s 16 years with the program.

,Morgan Scally “He is an exceptional football coach and his nomination as the head coach at the University of Utah is a testament to that,” Whittingham said. He added, “This is an honor he has earned not only because of his outstanding coaching abilities, but his selfless dedication to its program as well as the Utah Athletics family. The culture and tradition within Utah football brings great value to our staff. “There’s something to be proud of, and when the time comes for a change in the leadership of our program, we know Morgan will carry on those traditions as Utah football thrives.”

Scally, a former Utah All-America safety, will begin his ninth season as defensive coordinator in 2024 and has been coaching safeties since joining the staff full-time in 2008. He served as Utah’s recruiting and special teams coordinator from 2009–15. After beginning his coaching career as an administrative assistant with the Utes in 2006, he was promoted to coaching coordinator in 2015.

“Utah football and Utah athletics have always been home to me and my family and I am honored to receive this honor,” Scally said. “I want to thank President Randall, Coach Whittingham and Mark Harlan for the confidence they have shown in me, and I am committed to my continued development as a coach and person and as a member of the wonderful University of Utah community “Our staff is excited to begin a new era of Utah football in the Big 12 this fall under Coach Whittingham’s leadership and continue the traditions that have become part of our proud history.”

Known as one of the most talented defensive minds in the business, Scally led the Utes to rank in the top-half of the Pac-12 in total defense seven times, ranking second nationally and first in the league in 2019. are. He has directed the Pac-12’s top rushing defense five times over the last eight years, including top-five national rankings in 2018, 2019 and 2023. Utah has topped the conference in sacks and tackles for loss three times under Scally, most recently in back-to-back seasons (2021, 2022). The team finished the 2018 season ranked 11th nationally and first in the Pac-12 in sacks.

Individually, Scally has coached 13 All-Americans (four unanimous or unanimous), 19 first-team all-conference selections and five freshman All-Americans. He has also seen 29 of his pupils reach the NFL, with Devin Lloyd becoming the highest-drafted linebacker in school history in 2022 (first round, 27th overall).

The native of Salt Lake City, Utah, lettered for the Utes from 2001–04 and was the 2004 Mountain West Co-Defensive Player of the Year, second-team All-American (AP, Sports Illustrated) and unanimous first-team All-American. Conference security. He was second team All-MWC at defensive back in 2003 and was honorable mention All-MWC as a punt returner in 2001 and 2002.

As a senior, he captained Utah to a 12–0 record, a Fiesta Bowl victory over Pittsburgh and a No. 4 national ranking in a historic season in which Utah became the first non-BCS team to play in a BCS bowl game.

The two-time first-team Academic All-American was awarded the inaugural Pat Tillman Award during the 2005 East-West Shrine Game, recognizing him for his character, intelligence, sportsmanship and service. She earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communications magna cum laude from Utah in 2004 and a master’s degree in business administration from Utah in 2006.