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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah has a new offensive coordinator after only a few days since Aaron Roderick was let go from the program.
Head coach Kyle Whittingham announced Monday the hiring of Troy Taylor, the former co-offensive coordinator at FCS program Eastern Washington, as the team’s new offensive coordinator and quarterback coach. Jim Harding, who was serving as the co-offensive coordinator with Roderick, will stay as the offensive line coach but has been promoted to assistant coach.
“I have watched Troy Taylor closely over the years when he was coaching innovative high school offenses in California and was eager to see how that translated to college coaching. He achieved the same results at Eastern Washington and we are fortunate that Troy was interested in bringing that style of offense here to Utah,” Whittingham said in a statement. “Troy has trained a prolific number of record-setting quarterbacks in high school, at his academy and now in college.”
Taylor was the play-caller at Eastern Washington, where the team averaged 401.0 passing yards per game, which was No. 1 in FCS. Additionally, the team averaged 529.6 yards per game in total offense, which ranked No. 2 and scored an average of 42.4 points per game, which was ranked No. 3.
“I am thrilled to be a part of the University of Utah football program,” Taylor said in a statement. “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.”
Taylor said his offense is an “attacking style of offense that stretches the field and the defense in every way.” He added that the quarterback position was of “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 ar 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.”
In the first game of the season for Eastern Washington in 2016, Taylor's offense totaled 606 total yards on offense in a 45-42 win over Washington State. Quarterback Gage Gubrud threw for 474 yards and five touchdowns in the win.
Taylor coached Washington QB Jake Browning from the time he was in fifth grade until he graduated at Folsom High. Browning was named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2016 as he led the Huskies to the Playoff against No. 1 Alabama.
Taylor played QB California and was fourth-round pick in 1990 for the New York Jets, where he played for two seasons. He has coached at Casa Roble High School, was a graduate assistant at Colorado in 1995, and at Cal from 1996-99, where he coached wide receivers, quarterbacks and tight ends.
