After 21 seasons at the helm of Utah football, Kyle Whittingham is stepping away - but don’t call it a retirement just yet.
In his first comments since announcing he’s stepping down, Whittingham addressed the decision following a Thursday practice, and his message was clear: the timing felt right.
“The program’s in a good place right now,” he said. “Last season didn’t sit right with anybody, especially me. But we came back, got things back on track, and now everything’s where it needs to be.”
That sense of stability is key. Whittingham isn’t walking away from a rebuild or a broken system.
He’s handing off a program with a strong foundation, a solid coaching staff, and a locker room full of talent. Defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley, a longtime assistant and former Utah player, will take over as head coach after the Las Vegas Bowl.
Whittingham’s final game will be December 31 against Nebraska in the Las Vegas Bowl - a fitting sendoff for a coach who’s been the face of Utah football for more than two decades. And for Whittingham, this particular team holds a special place.
“This has been one of my favorite years,” he said. “The attitude, the leadership, the work ethic - just the overall vibe of this group has been outstanding. Getting one more month with these guys, one more game, that’s something I really wanted.”
But what comes after that final game? That’s still up in the air. The official language used in his announcement was “stepping down,” not “retiring,” and Whittingham himself isn’t ruling anything out.
“I don’t know if it’s ever out of your system,” he said. “It’s in your blood. I’m not sure what I’m going to do, but when you’ve got coaching in your blood, it just doesn’t go away.”
He was asked directly: is this not a retirement?
“Who knows? We’ll see,” Whittingham said. “I’m just stepping down and stepping away to reevaluate things.”
He kept the process simple. If the phone rings and the right opportunity presents itself? He’ll listen.
“If my phone rings, I answer it. I like who’s calling? Then we’ll see.”
According to the terms of his current contract, Whittingham is set to transition into a “Special Assistant to the Athletics Director” role for two years post-retirement - whenever that officially begins. That role would pay $3.45 million annually and require no more than 10 hours of consulting per week. But again, that’s only if he chooses to walk away from coaching altogether.
For now, his focus is on the Las Vegas Bowl and finishing strong with this team. Utah is heavily favored against a Nebraska squad that’s missing key offensive starters, and the Utes are looking to send their longtime coach out with win No. 178.
Quarterback Devon Dampier, who’s expected to play in the bowl game, spoke about what Whittingham has meant to him.
“It means a lot to me,” Dampier said. “That’s a coach who believed in me, brought me in after New Mexico, and trusted me to run the offense.
That kind of belief means everything. I’ve got to finish strong for him.”
As for who won’t be suiting up in Vegas, Whittingham said the team has just three opt-outs at this point: offensive tackles Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu, and defensive end Logan Fano - all of whom have declared for the 2026 NFL Draft. Everyone else, including Dampier, is expected to play.
And when Whittingham does officially pass the torch, he’s confident the program is in good hands with Scalley.
“He’s organized. He’s sharp with Xs and Os.
He connects with players. Our culture ideas are in sync,” Whittingham said.
“We think similarly when it comes to recruiting, the portal, evaluations - all of it.”
Scalley, who has spent nearly 20 years on Whittingham’s staff and played for the Utes himself, will put his own stamp on the program. But don’t expect a massive overhaul.
“Way back when I took over for Urban [Meyer], I said, ‘If it’s not broke, don’t fix it,’” Whittingham said. “We kept a lot of what Urban built.
And Morgan’s been here a long time. He’s a Utah Man through and through.
I think it’s going to be a good situation.”
Whittingham also made it clear that part of his decision was knowing when to step aside - and not overstaying his welcome.
“I’m a free agent. I’m in the transfer portal,” he joked.
“But I’m at peace. I didn’t want to be that guy where people are saying, ‘When’s he going to leave?’
That was never my intention. I hope I didn’t do that.
I’m sure some people think I did, but for me, the timing is right.”
So while the Las Vegas Bowl will mark the end of an era for Utah football, it’s not necessarily the end of the road for Kyle Whittingham. Whether he answers the next call or settles into a new role off the sideline, one thing is certain - he’s leaving the program better than he found it.