Utah is starting to feel the ripple effects of a major coaching shakeup - and the fallout is hitting harder than expected.
When longtime head coach Kyle Whittingham made the surprising move to take over at Michigan, it didn’t just mark the end of an era in Salt Lake City. It opened the door for a significant talent drain - both on the field and on the sidelines. And now, with players and assistants following Whittingham to Ann Arbor, the Utes are learning just how costly that transition might be.
The decision to elevate Morgan Scalley as head coach-in-waiting was meant to provide continuity. Instead, it may have accelerated Whittingham’s departure.
Michigan, needing to replace Sherrone Moore, didn’t waste any time. They saw an opportunity and landed one of the most respected coaches in college football.
And Whittingham, now fully locked in with the Wolverines, is doing exactly what he was hired to do: build a championship-caliber program - fast.
That includes recruiting, and not just in the traditional sense. Michigan has been pushing hard to flip Utah signee Salesi Moa, a talented athlete who was originally set to join the Utes.
His older brother, Aisea Moa - a linebacker who’s played at both BYU and Michigan State - visited Ann Arbor last week and is expected to sign with the Wolverines. That connection has only strengthened Michigan’s chances of landing Salesi.
Salesi had been a top target for Michigan during his recruitment and took visits to campus before ultimately choosing Utah. But with the coaching staff that recruited him now in Ann Arbor, and his brother likely joining the program, the writing’s on the wall. Salesi Moa is widely expected to flip his commitment to Michigan, with an announcement scheduled for Friday afternoon.
That move hasn’t gone unnoticed - especially in Utah.
Athletic director Mark Harlan took to social media to voice his frustration in a cryptic post on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “Well, he was is claqss for a (last) week. Public announcement...seen it all now (probably not).”
It’s rare - and eyebrow-raising - to see a sitting athletic director publicly weigh in on a player’s recruitment, especially one who hasn’t even played a down yet. But the frustration is understandable.
Moa wasn’t just a high-profile signee - he was part of a class that Utah hoped would help stabilize the program in the post-Whittingham era. Losing him, along with several coaches and players, is a tough pill to swallow.
Still, from the outside looking in, Moa’s potential flip doesn’t seem all that shocking. When the head coach, position coach, and offensive coordinator who recruited you all move to the same new program - and your brother is likely joining them - it’s not hard to connect the dots.
Moa, ranked as the No. 23 player currently in the transfer portal by Rivals and the top athlete in his class, brings a versatile skill set that could make an immediate impact at Michigan. For the Wolverines, it’s another win in a fast-moving offseason. For Utah, it’s a harsh reminder of how quickly things can change in today’s college football landscape - and how losing a head coach can mean losing a whole lot more than just a name on the door.