'Having a blast': Utah's Kyle Whittingham shares career outlook (Kyle Whittingham)

The salt is pushing out the pepper up top, as expected for a man of his years. But other than his hair and maybe a few wrinkles on his face, Kyle Whittingham looks, moves and behaves like a coach much younger than his 63 years.

The 2023 season will be Whittingham's 19th as Utah's head coach, and he said at Pac-12 media days Friday he has no plans to step down in the foreseeable future.

I am 63 years old, have been at this a long time. At some point it is going to come to an end,” Whittingham said, via Deseret News.

“I can just say right now (that) I am having a blast. I have got energy. I have got enthusiasm, excitement, passion. And as soon as that leaves, I think it is time to step down. But right now I am taking it year by year and I know I am fired up for this season.”

At 19 seasons, Whittingham is the second-longest tenured head coach in Utah history. His 228 games and counting are the most for any Utes coach, and in 2021 he passed College Football Hall of Famer Ike Armstrong for the most wins in school history.

Whittingham is the second longest-tenured active FBS head coach, and he's been with the program continuously since 1994. 

Having joined the program in 30 seasons ago as a defensive line coach, Whittingham has seen college football transform from a defensive- to an offensive-oriented game, and adapted well enough to win the last two Pac-12 championships. 

Utah was picked third by the Pac-12 media, but Whittingham said Friday he believes the 2023 outfit features the deepest roster he's ever had. 

"The guys gotta get healthy. The ball has to bounce your way a few times. But I think we got a chance to be pretty good.”

As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest. 

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