Morgan Scalley Faces Early Test as Utah's New Head Coach Amid Staff Uncertainty
Las Vegas - Just four days into officially taking the reins from Kyle Whittingham, Morgan Scalley’s tenure as Utah’s head coach is already being put to the test. And the clock is ticking.
With Whittingham off to Michigan, the ripple effects are already starting to hit Salt Lake City. According to reports, Wolverines head coach Whittingham has his eyes on Utah offensive coordinator Jason Beck as a top candidate to join him in Ann Arbor. If that move happens - and signs are pointing that way - Scalley could be staring down the challenge of replacing not one, but two coordinators before the NCAA transfer portal opens Friday.
And that’s just the beginning.
There’s growing speculation that more members of Utah’s staff - and possibly players - could follow Whittingham east after the Utes wrap up their bowl game on New Year’s Eve. That would leave Scalley with a significant rebuild on his hands before he’s even had a chance to settle into his new role.
When asked about the swirling uncertainty, Scalley kept the focus on the present - and on the group that’s still in the building.
“We’re focused on this bowl and sending out our seniors the right way,” Scalley said. “Is there a plan in place?
You better believe it. Our players understand - this is what college football is now.
Change is going to happen.”
Scalley isn’t wrong. Change is baked into the modern college football landscape, and he’s experiencing it in real time.
On Tuesday morning, All-American defensive end John Henry Daley announced he’s entering the transfer portal. That’s a big blow to Utah’s defense, and it could be a sign of more movement to come.
But the potential loss of Beck looms especially large - not just because of his role in shaping the offense, but because of his connection to Utah’s quarterbacks. Junior quarterback Devon Dampier has spent the last two seasons starting for Beck - first at New Mexico, then following him to Utah. That kind of continuity is rare in today’s game, and losing Beck could make it harder to keep Dampier in the fold.
Then there’s true freshman Byrd Ficklin, a three-star recruit out of Muskogee, Oklahoma, who signed earlier this month. He was recruited by Whittingham and could now be left wondering what the future holds in a rapidly changing program.
Beck also brought assistants Micah Simon and Koy Detmer with him from New Mexico. Their status is now up in the air as well, adding another layer of uncertainty to Utah’s offensive staff.
Through it all, Scalley is trying to keep a steady hand - and stay true to who he is.
“I think to be able to be true to myself and who I am as a coach - and not try to be Kyle Whittingham, not try to be Urban Meyer, not try and be Ron McBride, the coaches that have mentored me along the way - is important,” Scalley said.
He’s not trying to be the next version of someone else. He’s trying to build something that’s his - while still honoring the foundation that’s been laid.
“Culture is what you believe, how you behave, and the experience that’s delivered by that behavior,” he said. “The number one thing that I want to be able to establish is: What is that culture? A lot of those elements are going to continue from what Kyle did, but it’s getting people and getting everyone on board and moving that same direction.”
Scalley’s message is clear: this isn’t about reinventing the wheel. It’s about keeping the Utes moving forward - even as the road ahead gets bumpy.
He’s got a bowl game to finish, a staff to stabilize, and a roster to retain. It’s a tall order for a coach just four days in, but if there’s one thing Utah fans know about Morgan Scalley, it’s that he doesn’t back down from a challenge.