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SALT LAKE CITY â Utah football is closer to being fully staffed in its coaching positions after the hiring of a linebacker coach Monday.
Head coach Kyle Whittingham announced Monday the hiring of Colton Swan, 38, a longtime Weber State assistant coach, to serve as the teamâs newest linebacker coach. The position was made vacant when Justin Ena, who was in his fourth season at Utah, left to be the defensive coordinator at Utah State.
âColton has done an outstanding job for many years at Weber State,â Whittingham said in a statement. âHe 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 the staff.â
Swan spent the last 15 years at Weber State in several coaching roles with the team. Most recently, though, Swan was the programâs special teams coordinator and linebacker coach. In his time with Weber State, he also was a co-defensive coordinator and has coached safeties and tight ends.
âI 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,â Swan said in a statement. âI canât wait to get to work.â
Swan thanked Weber State head coach Jay Hill and the university for his time there but said âI just couldnât pass upâ the opportunity to be at Utah. In the last two seasons, Weber State won back-to-back Big Sky championships and featured one of the best defenses in the Football Championship Subdivision.
Swan is a graduate of Weber State and was a second-team All-Big Sky linebacker as a senior in 2003. He originally walked on to the team after accepting a rodeo scholarship to the university. He was awarded a football scholarship a year later and played three seasons as a linebacker.
Utah is still looking to fill its offensive coordinator position that was left vacant when Troy Taylor accepted a head coaching position at Sacramento State. Whittingham said last week he hoped to fill the position by Jan. 6 but wasnât planning to rush the process to just fill the void.
