Last Friday, documents released by the University of Utah in response to a Deseret News GRAMA request revealed that former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham wanted to return as coach of the school.
Whittingham, through his agent, informed Utah on Dec. 2, 2025 that he “does not intend to retire at the conclusion of the 2025 football season.”
The following day, Whittingham’s agent, Bruce Tollner, sent a follow-up email with Whittingham’s request for a $1.6 million per year raise in the 2026 and 2027 seasons. Whittingham also requested $20 million in NIL funds and an assistant coach salary pool increase of $2 million.
Utah countered with a one-year deal for the 2026 season that would have bumped up Whittingham’s pay to $8 million, but included important stipulations.
Morgan Scalley, the coach-in-waiting, would have “full and final oversight in decision-making for the areas of football recruiting/player personnel staffing and the general manager position” effective Feb. 1, which was after the 2026 transfer portal closed.
It also said that, effective immediately, Scalley would have “complete decision-making authority over all football recruiting, roster management, and staffing matters that impact the program beyond the 2026 football season.” In addition, any staffing decisions made by Whittingham that would “result in the change or relinquishing of duties” would require athletic director Mark Harlan’s approval, and a senior athletic department official would be housed full-time in the football facility.
Whittingham and Utah did not come to an agreement on those terms, instead working out a fourth amendment to Whittingham’s contract, spelling out the terms of his exit from the university, which included a $13.5 million “transition bonus.”
Whittingham signed that amendment on Dec. 12. On Dec. 26, he accepted the head coaching job at Michigan.
On Tuesday, Utah coach Morgan Scalley was asked if he knew that Whittingham wanted to come back and what his relationship is like with him now.
As he has been since Whittingham exited the program, Scalley was nothing but complimentary of Utah’s all-time winningest coach on Tuesday, but shifted the focus back onto his players as the Utes continue spring camp this week.
“I have a great relationship with Kyle Whittingham, and honestly, I love him. I wish him and that program nothing but success, but my focus is on our program,” Scalley said. “There has been a lot of focus on, and I understand the why, but man, do we have an incredible team right here and an amazing opportunity, and I need to devote all my time and energy to those guys.”
No spring game this year for Utes
Utah will not have a traditional spring game this season, Scalley said Tuesday, with the Utes’ head coach preferring to conduct a 15th spring practice instead.
“We’ve got enough new in the system that I really want to take advantage of that 15th practice,” Scalley said.
The Utes will be hosting an event on April 18 for fans to meet the players and staff and engage with them.
Scalley also said that he wants to open things up more in the spring. Utah had an open practice for the media last Saturday and the media was able to watch the final 20 minutes of practice on Tuesday.
“We are going to open things up. We’ve already opened things up more to you guys (media) and also going to do that to our fans a little bit. And obviously on the 18th, we’re going to have a fan day so that they can meet the new players and there will be engagement with our new guys and new staff. So we’re doing all we can to play both sides,” Scalley said.