Kyle Whittingham has been a part of the Utah football family dating all the way back to 1994 when the former BYU linebacker joined the staff as the Utes defensive line coach.
After a promotion to defensive coordinator just a year later, following previous stints calling defenses at Eastern Utah and Idaho State, Whit spent a decade in that role bouncing between the linebackers and safeties before being tabbed to replace Urban Meyer following his departure to become the head coach at Florida.
Whittingham has been transparent about how last year's 5-7 season compelled college football second-longest tenured head coach to come back for another season leading his beloved Utes, while also being honest about how close the 66-year old has been to hanging up his whistle to retirement.
The program named defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley head coach-in-waiting back in July of 2024, a title the veteran play caller had previously had before it was taken away, but as the season's end draws near there are a lot of questions on when Whittingham will make a decision on his future.
According to his contract, as pointed out by The Salt Lake Tribune, Whittingham has two possible dates in December where he is obligated to provide written notification to the university of his retirement decision.
If the Utes are playing in the Big 12 title game, that date is December 12th. Utah is sitting at 9-2 overall and 6-2 in league play, behind Texas Tech and BYU who are each 7-1.
If they are not in the conference championship game, that date is a bit sooner, as he's required to inform the university in writing by December 8th.
Note that only written notification is needed, which certainly doesn't mean a public announcement is necessarily also made on those dates.
When asked about his future coaching the Utes yesterday, and whether that's something he's thinking about now or waiting to dig deeper on, Whittingham referred to that decision being an "after the season thing."
"When it’s all said and done - whatever happens to us in the postseason, whichever situation we find ourselves in - as soon as everything’s culminated and I have some time, have a few days, and maybe even a week or two to sit back and evaluate and see where you’re at, I’ll go from there.
“I guess that’s the best answer I can give you right now," he added to close out his answer.
With their thrilling win over Chris Klieman's Kansas State squad last week, Utah kept their hopes of a College Football Playoff at-large bid alive, even as BYU's win over Cincinnati provided a major ding to the hopes of the Utes chances of playing for a Big 12 title. Texas Tech and BYU in full control of their destiny for the conference crown heading into the final week of the regular season.
For Utah to make the Big 12 title game (set to be played on Saturday, December 6, 2025), the Utes would need:
- to beat Kansas on the road in Lawrence
- BYU to beat UCF at home
- Texas Tech to lose to West Virginia on the road
- and Arizona State to beat Arizona at home
That scenario would set the stage for a Utah vs. BYU rematch, where Whittingham would have six days following the game to make a decision on his future leading the Utes, or whether the baton gets passed to defensive coordinator and head coach-in-waiting Morgan Scalley.
With the chances of Utah playing in the Big 12 Championship game slim, we're most likely looking at a December 8th deadline for him to provide his written notice.
Hear Whittingham's full thoughts on a retirement decision from yesterday's presser in the clip.