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Kyle Whittingham announces decision to return to Utah for 2025 season

Wade-Peeryby: Wade Peery12/08/24
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(Photo above by ยฉ Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)

Kyle Whittingham has established himself as one of the better college football coaches in the history of the sport with the Utah Utes. But itโ€™s clear that his career in Salt Lake City is winding down sometime in the near future. The two-time Pac-12 Coach of the Year (2019, 2021) has been at the school since 2005, and is currently the all-time wins leader for the Utes. But on Sunday evening, the Utah football team issued a press release, announcing that heโ€™ll be back for the 2025 campaign.

The statement simply read two words: โ€œIโ€™m back.โ€

In 21 years at the helm of the Utah Utes, Whittingham has guided them to an overall record of 167-86, with a win percentage of 66%. Heโ€™s posted a 11-6 overall record in bowl games. The Utes struggled mightily this season, after quarterback Cam Rising suffered a number of injuries. They also had a number of other players get banged up. Utah finished with a 5-7 overall record this year.

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The Utes nearly spoiled BYUโ€™s season, but the Cougars managed to come away with a 22-21 win in Salt Lake City. BYU drove the length of the field to drill a game-winning field goal with three seconds on the clock, spoiling the Utesโ€™ hopes of an upset.

Since 2021, Whittingham has guided Utah to two Rose Bowls (2021 and 2022), with the team posting a 10-4 overall record in both of those seasons.

Whittingham decided to bring in a highly coveted offensive coordinator this offseason, New Mexicoโ€™s Jason Beck. Beck comes to the Utes after posting explosive numbers as the OC with the New Mexico Lobos this season. Under his guidance, the New Mexico offensive attack finished the 2024 season ranked first in the MWC in red zone offense and total offense, ranking fourth in the country with 484.3 yards per game.

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Whittinghamโ€™s best team in Salt Lake City came in 2008, when the Utes became one of two teams in the country to finish the regular season undefeated (the other was the Boise State Broncos). Utah ended the season with a 13-0 overall record, capping it off with a Sugar Bowl victory over Alabama.

The Utes also finished that season as the nationโ€™s only undefeated team. It was the fifth undefeated and untied season in Utah football history. During the 2008-2009 campaign, the Utes defeated four teams that were ranked in the AP final poll: Alabama (No. 6), TCU (No. 7), Oregon State (No. 18), and BYU (No. 25).

For the impressive season, Whittingham won multiple coach of the year awards, including from the Mountain West Conference, the AFCA, and the Paul โ€œBearโ€ Bryant Award.

The Utes will likely be looking to add a quarterback in the transfer portal this offseason. The future of Cam Rising is uncertain due to his extensive injury history and backup quarterback Isaac Wilson announced on Sunday that he plans to enter the portal.

One player theyโ€™ll definitely target is former New Mexico quarterback Devon Dampier, who posted explosive numbers this season under Jason Beck. But, according to On3โ€™s Pete Nakos and Steve Wiltfong, SEC schools and Big 12 schools are after him, so heโ€™ll be a highly coveted commodity.

The Utes are slated to open up their 2025 campaign with the UCLA Bruins (Aug. 30th).