The program is rich in tradition, especially at the running back position. Year in and year out, Utah has great running backs. – Kiel McDonald
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah coach Kyle Whittingham has made another hire, adding another Eastern Washington assistant to his staff.
Kiel McDonald, who spent the past five seasons with the Eagles, is the new running backs coach for the Utes. He’ll be reunited with Troy Taylor, who was hired away from EWU earlier in the month to be Utah’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
"We are excited to welcome Kiel to our staff," Whittingham said in announcing the hire. "His experience working with Troy (Taylor) last year at Eastern Washington will be a great asset in helping us install the new offense."
McDonald expressed excitement about his position with the Utes.
"The program is rich in tradition, especially at the running back position. Year in and year out, Utah has great running backs,” he said in a statement released by the university. “I am looking forward to working with Troy Taylor again and the rest of the Utah coaching staff in trying to win a Pac-12 championship."
McDonald, 33, fills a vacancy created by the retirement of assistant head coach Dennis Erickson, who oversaw the running backs. McDonald was a player for Erickson at Idaho. He was also a graduate assistant for him at Arizona State in 2011.