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SALT LAKE CITY — After a short stint with the University of Utah, defensive coordinator John Pease announced his retirement Monday.
"We appreciate the passion, energy and coaching experience that John Pease brought to our program on a daily basis," head coach Kyle Whittingham said in a prepared statement. "While we completely understand his decision to retire, players and coaches alike are sorry to see him leave. Through the years, John has had a major impact on Utah football as a player, coach and longtime friend and advisor."
To fill the vacancy left by Pease, 72, Whittingham has promoted safeties coach Morgan Scalley to defensive coordinator. Scalley was originally considered for the position last season after then-defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake took the same position at Oregon State, but Whittingham chose to bring Pease out of retirement to offer some experience.
Pease, a long-time assistant in the NFL ranks and former Utah coach, came out of retirement last season and led Utah's defense as a premier defense in the Pac-12. Under his leadership, Utah's defense was ranked in the top three in the conference in scoring defense, total defense, rushing defense and pass efficiency defense.
Scalley, a former safety at Utah on their 2004 undefeated run, has been with the coaching staff since 2007 where he was a defensive graduate assistant. Scalley joined the staff full time in 2008 and has been a vital recruiter and safeties coach for team.
"Morgan has played an ever increasing role in our overall defensive scheming the past few seasons and is ready to take the reigns as the defensive coordinator," Whittingham said in a statement. "He is bright, innovative and hard working."
Scalley and Pease worked together in the coaching box to call defensive plays, making the transition from Pease to Scalley seamless.
