I’ve always been impressed with Troy’s knowledge of the game, of offenses. He doesn’t invent things but he’s quick to make enhancements and modifications to things. – Freddie Whittingham, on Troy Taylor
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah tight ends coach Freddie Whittingham has fond memories of his first meeting with Troy Taylor, the man hired to be the Utes’ new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
They crossed paths in 2010 in a classroom at Folsom High near Sacramento, California. Whittingham, who was working in the publishing industry at the time, visited his daughter Ashley’s class to speak about his career. She mentioned that her teacher loved football.
After the presentation, Whittingham was approached by the instructor.
“Pretty soon it became apparent to me that this guy knew a lot about football,” Whittingham said.
The teacher was Mr. Taylor, who eventually revealed that he was a former quarterback at California and played a couple of the years in the NFL with the New York Jets.
Taylor was helping the Folsom football team while serving as a radio analyst for the Cal Bears. The men spent more than an hour conversing about the sport.
The next year, when Whittingham’s son Sam (now a linebacker for the Utes) enrolled at Folsom, Taylor gave up his broadcasting gig to become co-head coach and offensive coordinator of the high school team.
Whittingham wound up coaching the eighth-grade team that fed into Folsom and Taylor outlined the offense he wanted them to run. They worked together over the summer installing things. That team eventually won a state championship for Folsom.
“I’ve always been impressed with Troy’s knowledge of the game, of offenses. He doesn’t invent things but he’s quick to make enhancements and modifications to things,” Whittingham said. “He’s got a specific way that he likes to mentor and coach quarterbacks in terms of technique and fundamentals, footwork, releasing the ball and then also from a scheme perspective he tries to simplify the reads for the quarterbacks as much as possible.”
Whittingham added that everywhere Taylor has gone the quarterbacks have responded with really great numbers and productivity. He coached Washington's Jake Browning, the Pac-12's reigning Offensive Player of the Year, from fifth grade through high school.
In his one and only season at Eastern Washington, where Taylor served as co-offensive coordinator, play caller and quarterbacks coach, the Eagles led the FCS in passing offense (401 ypg). They were second in total offense (529.6 ypg) and third in scoring offense (42.4 ppg). Sophomore quarterback Gage Gubrud set a record with 5,160 yards passing. He threw for 48 touchdowns and was named 2016 FCS Player of the Year by the Touchdown Club of Columbus.
“I have watched Troy Taylor closely over the years when he was coaching innovative high school offense in California and was eager to see how that translated to college coaching,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said in announcing the hiring. “He achieved the same results at Eastern Washington and we are fortunate that Troy was interested in bringing that style here to Utah.”
Whittingham noted that Taylor has coached many successful quarterbacks though his career in high school, college and at The Passing Academy, an elite camp he founded.
“I am thrilled to be a part of the University of Utah football program,” Taylor said in the official announcement. “I have admired coach Whittingham and his program for a long time. The opportunity to come on board and help win a Pac-12 championship is a dream come true.”
As for style of offense, Taylor explained that the Utes will have an attacking style that stretches the field and defenses in every way.
“Creating success for the quarterback will be our utmost priority. If your QB plays well, you have a great chance of winning,” Taylor said. “Therefore, the development of his fundamentals and skill set are vital. However, it is just as imperative to have an offensive system that is both dynamic and user-friendly.
“That has been the driving force in my offensive philosophy and I am excited to bring this to the University of Utah,” he continued.
Taylor takes over an offense that ranked ninth in the Pac-12 in passing (216.7 ypg). The Utes ranked in the bottom half of the conference in scoring (29.8 ppg) and total offense (430.7 ypg). They were 11th in red zone offense (77.8 percent).
“I know Troy loves to throw the ball, for sure. But I think he also — first and foremost — wants to win football games,” Freddie Whittingham said. “And so I’m positive that he’ll look at our personnel and look at what we’ve been good at. He’ll look at the offensive scheme that’s been in place and any elements that mirror what he’s already doing — I can’t speak for him — but I’m thinking he’ll make moves to simplify it for the players to make the transition as seamless as possible for them.”
He believes Taylor will be a real good collaborator.
“I’m excited. I’m excited at what he brings to the table for us.”
The move is the ninth in 10 years involving the offensive coordinator position at Utah. Long-time assistant Aaron Roderick, who joined the staff in 2005, was not retained after the Utes defeated Indiana 26-24 in the Foster Farms Bowl. Roderick was the primary play caller, co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the time of his release.
Offensive line coach Jim Harding, the other coordinator the past two seasons, received a new title. He’s added assistant head coach to his duties, replacing the retiring Dennis Erickson.