Kyle Whittingham has a lot on his mind.
But even as he prepared for his team’s final game of the season, it was the offseason that loomed largest for the Ute football program, with the future of its longtime head coach uncertain.
Whittingham said he will be making a decision on his potential retirement soon. He is in his 20th season at the helm of the program and once previously said he does not want to coach past the age of 65.
But after turning 65 last week, Whittingham said the decision to potentially retire is not about himself — rather, it’s what is best for the program.
This season has been the worst of Whittingham’s career with Utah, as the Utes are currently reeling on a seven-game losing streak and have their worst overall record since 2013. But going out on top is not the concern for Whittingham.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah football defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley on the sidelines during their game against the TCU Horned Frogs, NCAA football in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024.
“It’s about what’s best for the program,” he said Monday. “My decision will be dictated based on that, not to time it just right. To go out at just the right time, I mean there is a very, very small percentage of people who are able to do that.
“I’m not saying, ‘Well, this was a bad year. So for me, I got to come back and have a better year.’ I mean, everyone wants to have a better year next year, regardless of who the coach is, and, and like I said, it’s just an evaluation process from me and my family to decide what’s best, and I just continue to emphasize (that I’m) putting the program first. And whatever puts the program in the best situation, that’s the decision I’ll make.”
On a personal level, Whittingham feels like he could continue to do the job at a high level.
“As far as energy. I feel great ... The season’s been a beatdown mentally, but physically and just day to day, I have plenty of plenty of gas left in the tank,” he said.
Utah’s head coach is also not putting a timetable on when or how he’ll make an upcoming decision, especially as the Utes look to fill their offensive coordinator vacancy left by Andy Ludwig, who stepped down from the program late in October.
Defensive coordinator and head coach-in-waiting Morgan Scalley has been deeply involved in Utah’s recruiting process and offensive coordinator search, so that way there will be a seamless transition when Whittingham ultimately decides to step down.
Whittingham believes that should give the Utes — from current players and staffers to future recruits — some reassurances.
“With the coaching-in-waiting in place, we have already had those discussions with recruits that when that time comes, here’s what the plan is,” Utah’s head coach said. “It’s not like the recruits and our own guys don’t know what the succession plan is. That takes some of the edge off it, and it would be a whole lot different if we didn’t have that plan in place.”
With that being said, Whittingham’s future is still in question.
And it’s possible he hasn’t even made up his own mind yet.
Nonetheless, a decision is on the horizon.
“Can’t tell you for sure,” Whittingham said. “After the final games finishes ... I’ll sit down and evaluate everything. I can tell you right now that Coach Scalley will be involved in all decisions going forward because it’s only right that he does that because he’s head coach in waiting and when that time comes, you know, we need to make sure that he’s had input on big decisions, and so it’ll be a team effort as far as hiring and recruiting and that type of thing.”
