Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Multiple reports over the last several months have speculated on Kyle Whittingham's retirement, including one that even listed a conditional date.
Seventeen years into his demanding position as the Utah football coach, the thinking goes, Whittingham didn't look the part well into last season. For the first time since the early years after joining the Pac-12 years earlier, strife surrounded the program.
The Utes had endured their share of hardships, as many programs did, dealing with the COVID-ravaged shortened season of 2020 and then two early nonconference losses last year. And then they were forced into trying to cope with and make sense of the death of two players, Texans Ty Jordan and Aaron Lowe.
No wonder the boss looked fatigued.
But football-wise, better days arrived quickly. As the conference season wore on, Utah found the right quarterback and destroyed nationally prominent Oregon twice in three weeks on the way to playing Ohio State in the glorious Rose Bowl.
With season 18 less than two months away, Whittingham is enjoying the financial windfall for his program's unprecedented success. In an amended contract that was made public this week, Whittingham will earn upwards of $6 million for the 2022 season and will tap out at $8 million in 2027.
From the looks of it, we've gone from a burned-out coach last season to boatloads of cash the next five years. What changed?
Probably not much. Turning 63 in November, Whittingham likely has a plan in mind for his retirement and will announce it according to his timeline.
Despite a published report indicating otherwise, Whittingham was never going to retire if Utah made the Rose Bowl last season. He addressed as much this offseason, saying he was enjoying the job as much as ever.
Now comes more speculation he will step aside if the Utes, who will be favored to repeat at Pac-12 champions, win the Rose Bowl or make the four-team national playoff for the first time. At least athletic director Mark Harlan, who continues to pony up the money, is doing his part to quell talk of the coach trading in his whistle for more time on the slopes or golf course.
"This is a commitment that recognizes what coach Whittingham and his program have achieved," Harlan said in a statement, "and reinforces our intention to build upon that success in the years to come."
After Rose Bowl appearance, Utah's Kyle Whittingham receives significant pay raise
The Rose Bowl appearance gave longtime head coach Kyle Whittingham a significant raise to an already signed extension in 2020.In time, another head coach will be charged with continuing Utah's impressive recent success. Don't count on Whittingham leading the program in five years, which he said as much recently when asked about Quin Snyder quitting after eight years as the Utah Jazz coach.
"There comes a time where you need a new voice and a new leader," Whittingham said. "Obviously, he felt like that was the time for him right now. And I'm getting kind of close to that in my career."
Close as in one more season? It's possible, although probably plan on another two.
Staying on until he is 64 would put Whittingham at the same age his father and mentor, who died from surgical complications 19 years ago. His son is fully aware that Fred Whittingham was robbed of time with his grandchildren.
The future employment with the university as a special assistant upon retirement for five years at nearly $1 million annually will allow plenty of family time for Whittingham to pursue recreational interests, which include skiing and golf.
Things can change until Whittingham's retirement, but for now defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley is the heir apparent. The former Utah safety had a coach-in-waiting title rescinded in June 2020 after a racial slur he texted to a recruit in 2013 became public, putting a blemish on his otherwise impeccable character.
