SALT LAKE CITY — Longtime Weber State assistant football coach Colton Swan is the new linebackers coach for the University of Utah. Swan joins the Utes after 15 seasons with the Wildcats.
"Colton has done an outstanding job for many years at Weber State," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said in making the announcement. "He has a track record of success coaching several positions, most notably linebacker, as well as being an accomplished special teams coach. His demeanor and coaching style are a good fit for our program and we are excited to have him join our staff."
Swan replaces Justin Ena, who left the Utes to become the defensive coordinator at Utah State.
"I am thankful for the opportunity Coach Whittingham has given me and I am excited to be part of such a great program and great coaching staff," Swan said in a released statement. "I can't wait to get to work. While Weber State has been home to me for 20 years and I can't say enough good things about the city, school, players and coach Jay Hill, the opportunity to coach at Utah was one I just couldn't pass up."
Before becoming a coach, Swan was a standout linebacker at Weber State. He made 109 tackles as a senior in 2003 and earned second-team All-Big Sky Conference honors.
HALL OF FAMER: Former Utah assistant Dennis Erickson, who is now head coach of the AAF’s Salt Lake Stallions, is being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He’s part of the 2019 class of honorees announced by the National Football Foundation on Monday.
Erickson won two national championships with the Miami Hurricanes (1989, 1991). He also served as the head coach at Idaho, Wyoming, Washington State, Oregon State and Arizona, along with the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers, during a 47-year coaching career.
From 2013-16, Erickson assisted Whittingham at Utah.
COMING BACK: Several Utes will be returning to Rice-Eccles Stadium this spring to play for Erickson with the Stallions. Those on the inaugural training camp roster include wide receiver Dres Anderson, running back Matt Asiata, wide receiver Kaelin Clay, tight end Anthony Denham, cornerback Keith McGill, defensive tackle Tenny Palepoi, offensive lineman Jeremiah Poutasi, linebacker Trevor Reilly, defensive tackle Sealver Siliga and wide receiver Kendal Thompson.