Story links
SALT LAKE CITY – University of Utah Director of Athletics Mark Harlan shared that the University of Utah signed a new employment contract with Utah football defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley on November 23, 2023, formally designating Scalley as head coach of the football program in waiting. Scalley is entering his 17th year on the Utes staff under head coach Kyle Whittingham in 2024.
“Coach Whittingham has built Utah Football into 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 to lead this incredible Utah Football program as we move into the Big 12 Conference and into the new, expanded College Football Playoff,” Harlan said. “However, we must plan for the future, and Coach Whittingham and I firmly believe that future lies in the hands of Morgan Scalley. Morgan has played a pivotal role in our success through his embodiment of our core values and his leadership, and I have witnessed firsthand his growth as a coach and as a person over the past several years. He is an elite coach who has been coached by the best – Coach Whittingham – and when it is time for Morgan to take the helm, I have no doubt that our program will continue to be successful.”
Whittingham, Utah’s all-time winningest head coach, 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 an average tenure of 7.4 seasons with the Utes, the longest longevity of any power conference staff, which includes Scalley’s 16 years with the program.
“Morgan Scalley is an exceptional football coach and his appointment as head coach-in-waiting at the University of Utah is a testament to that,” Whittingham said. “It is a distinction he has earned not only for his outstanding coaching skills, but also for his selfless dedication to the program, as well as the Utah Athletics family. The culture and tradition within Utah Football is a source of pride for our staff. , and when the time comes for a transition in the leadership of our program, we know Morgan will continue those traditions the Utah Football way.”
Scalley, a former Utah All-America safety, will begin his ninth season as defensive coordinator in 2024 and has been coaching the safeties since joining the staff full-time in 2008. He served as Utah’s recruiting coordinator from 2009 to 2015 and special teams coordinator in 2015, after beginning his coaching career as an administrative assistant with the Utes in 2006.
“Utah football and Utah athletics have always been home to me and my family, and I am honored to receive this award,” Scalley said. “I want to thank President Randall, Coach Whittingham and Mark Harlan for the trust they have placed in me, and I remain committed to my continued growth as a coach and person, and as a member of the incredible 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 and to continue the traditions that have become a part of our proud history.”
Known as one of the brightest defensive minds in the business, Scalley has led the Utes to finish in the top half of the Pac-12 in total defense seven times, ranking second nationally and first in the league in 2019. Has led the Pac-12’s top run defense five times in the last eight years, including top five national rankings in 2018, 2019 and 2023. Utah has finished atop the conference in sacks and tackles for loss three times with Scalley, most recently in consecutive seasons (2021, 2022). The team also finished the 2018 season ranked 11th nationally and first in the Pac-12 in sacks.
Individually, Scalley has coached 13 All-Americans (four consensus or unanimous), 19 first-team all-conference selections and five freshman All-Americans. He has also seen 29 of his protégés reach the NFL, including Devin Lloyd, who became the highest-drafted linebacker in school history in 2022 (first round, 27th overall).
The Salt Lake City, Utah, native played for the Utes from 2001 to 2004 and was the 2004 Mountain West Co-Defensive Player of the Year, a second-team All-American (KeynoteUSA, Sports Illustrated) and unanimous All-American of the first team. conference security. He was second-team All-MWC defensive back in 2003 and honorable mention All-MWC 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 received the inaugural Pat Tillman Award during the 2005 East-West Shrine Game, recognizing him for his character, intelligence, sportsmanship and service. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Utah in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications and earned a master’s degree in business administration from the U in 2006.
Keynote USA
For the Latest Sports News, Follow Keynote USA Sports on Twitter.