Whittingham will leave as the winningest head coach in Utah history.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham celebrates the Utes’ win over the Kansas State Wildcats on Nov. 22, 2025.
Utah football coach Kyle Whittingham is stepping down from the program after 21 seasons in charge of the Utes.
The 66-year-old announced his decision on Friday after leading the Utes to a 10-2 record this year — the team’s third 10-win season since 2020.
“The time is right to step down from my position as the head football coach at the University of Utah,” Whittingham said in a news release. “It’s been an honor and a privilege to lead the program for the past 21 years and I’m very grateful for the relationships forged with all the players and assistant coaches that have worked so hard and proudly worn the drum and feather during our time here.
“The opportunity to guide so many talented young men as they pursued their goals — both on and off the field — has truly been a blessing. Thank you to the University, the Salt Lake community, all of Ute Nation and most of all my wife and family for your unwavering support that has helped make Utah Football what it is today.”
Whittingham’s announcement did not specifically mention retirement. The Athletic reported Friday that Whittingham might be open to other jobs in football.
With Whittingham leaving his post, Utes defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley is in line to be named as the program’s next head coach. He has served as Utah’s defensive play caller since 2016.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Kyle Whittingham on the sidelines early in his coaching career.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Kyle Whittingham coaches alongside his father, Fred, during a game against Washington State in 1999.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Kyle Whittingham talks to his defensive players on the sidelines of the Utah – Washington State football game in 1999.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Kyle Whittingham coaches then-safety Morgan Scalley during a game against BYU in Provo in 2003.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Kyle Whittingham answers questions on the radio as his 6-year-old daughter Kylie watches after Whittingham was announced as the next head football coach in December 2004.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Urban Meyer, left, and Kyle Whittingham speak at a press conference before the Fiesta Bowl in 2004.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Kyle Whittingham speaks to the crowd after the Utes won the Fiesta Bowl against Pittsburgh in Tempe, Ariz., Jan. 1, 2005.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Kyle Whittingham embraces defensive back Eric Weddle on senior day in 2006.
(Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune) Kyle Whittingham gives Utah cornerback Lamar Chapman an earful during a game in 2009.
(Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune) Kyle Whittingham watches his team as the Utes face Alabama during the 4th quarter in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Friday, Jan. 2, 2009.
(Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune) Kyle Whittingham and quarterback Brian Johnson hold the Sugar Bowl trophy aloft after the Utes defeated Alabama in in New Orleans, Jan. 2, 2009.
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Kyle Whittingham is covered in confetti at a parade after the Utes’ 2008 perfect season, Jan. 16, 2009.
(Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune) BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall and Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham meet at the center of the field before the start of a game at Lavell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009.
(Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune) Kyle Whittingham argues a call during the first half of a game against TCU, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010.
(Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune) Kyle Whittingham after rides his bike after a fall practice in 2011.
(Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune) Kyle Whittingham gets congratulated by his wife, Jamie, after Utah defeated BYU, Sept. 15, 2012.
(Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune) Kyle Whittingham follows through on a golf shot as the team held a golf competition after a football practice in 2014.
(Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah players dump a cooler of water on Kyle Whittingham after winning the Las Vegas Bowl, Dec. 20, 2014.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Kyle Whittingham high-fives fans after his 100th win as Utah’s head coach in 2016.
(Scott Sommerdorf | The Salt Lake Tribune) Kyle Whittingham shows off his “U” jacket lining while making a visit at the Utah House of Representatives, Thursday, March 3, 2016.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham prepares to take the field as BYU hosts Utah, Sept. 9, 2017.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah coach Kyle Whittingham becomes emotional as he watches a tribute on the big screen to his former running back Ty Jordan during Utah’s game against the Weber State Wildcats in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021.
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) The University of Utah football team head coach Kyle Whittingham mourns the loss of student-athlete Aaron Lowe during a candlelight vigil at the A Ray Olpin Student Union southwest lawn, Sept. 29, 2021.
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham celebrates the win. The Utes defeated the Oregon Ducks to win the 2021 Pac12 Football Championship title at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Dec 3, 2021.
(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham celebrates the win. The Utes defeated the Oregon Ducks to win the 2021 Pac12 Football Championship title at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Dec 3, 2021.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham and Utah football players salute Aaron Lowe and Ty Jordan during a break in the action, between Utah Utes and Ohio State Buckeyes in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., on Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022.
(Chris Samuels | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah football coach Kyle Whittingham makes an appearance on ESPN’s College GameDay college football show on the university campus in Salt Lake City, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) University of Utah Head Football Coach Kyle Whittingham rides into the stadium for the announcement of the the Billy Joel & Sting concert coming to Rice-Eccles Stadium in May, during a news conference on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham as BYU hosts Utah, NCAA football at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025.
(Charlie Riedel | AP) Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham watches during the first half of his team’s game against Kansas on Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in Lawrence, Kan.
Whittingham will end his career with a 177-88 all-time record in Salt Lake City. Utah has finished with a winning record in 18 of his 21 years as head coach, including a run of 10 straight seasons from 2014-23.
Utah also had eight 10-win seasons and 11 bowl wins under Whittingham’s leadership. The Utes coach also won two National Coach of the Year awards in 2019 and 2008.
Entering the season, Whittingham was the second-longest tenured head coach in Division I college football behind Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham, on the field before Big-12 Football action between the Utah Utes and the Kansas State Wildcats at Rice-Eccles Stadium, on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.
“The legacy that Kyle Whittingham leaves distinguishes him as one of the most impactful figures in the history of Utah Athletics,” Utah Athletic Director Mark Harlan said in a statement. “As the head coach or as an assistant, Coach Whitt played a pivotal role in the most historic and successful seasons in program history, and established championship expectations. Perhaps more importantly, he established a legacy of tremendous character, integrity and class. Kyle Whittingham will forever be appreciated and cherished for his leadership and achievement with Utah Football.”
Whittingham’s final game coaching the Utes will be the team’s appearance in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 31.
Words of appreciation flooded in after the news of Whittingham’s departure broke on Friday afternoon.
“Kyle Whittingham built a program, shaped young men, and represented Utah with integrity and grit for two decades,” Utah Gov. Spencer Cox wrote on X. “We’re grateful for his leadership, his loyalty to this state, and the standard he set on and off the field.”
Whittingham has been coaching the Utes since 1994, when he joined Ron McBride’s staff as a defensive line coach. He was later promoted by McBride to defensive coordinator in 1995 and held the position for almost a decade.
Whittingham then spent two more years under Urban Meyer before he was finally hired as the program’s head coach in 2004.
Over the two decades that followed, Whittingham became the winningest coach in program history and one of the best coaches in the nation. His best season came in 2008, when he led Utah to an undefeated record and Mountain West Conference Championship. The Utes ended that season with a 31-17 win over Alabama in the 2009 Sugar Bowl.
Other notable moments of Whittingham’s career came in 2021 and 2022, when the U. captured consecutive Pac-12 titles and Rose Bowl appearances for the first time in program history.
