Utah's winningest coach ever to step down after 21 seasons: 'Honor and a privilege'

The Utah Utes volition beryllium ending an epoch erstwhile they play against Nebraska successful the Las Vegas Bowl connected Dec. 31.

It volition beryllium caput manager Kyle Whittingham’s past crippled arsenic caput coach, arsenic the 66-year-old announced helium is stepping down connected Friday. Whittingham is the winningest manager successful programme history, going 117-88 implicit 22 seasons. 

"The clip is close to measurement down from my presumption arsenic the caput shot manager astatine the University of Utah," Whittingham said successful a connection Friday. 

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Utah Utes caput manager Kyle Whittingham looks connected from the sidelines during the archetypal fractional against the Baylor Bears astatine McLane Stadium successful Waco, Texas, connected Nov. 15, 2025. (Chris Jones/Imagn Images)

"It’s been an grant and a privilege to pb the programme for the past 21 years, and I’m precise grateful for the relationships forged with each the players and adjunct coaches that person worked truthful hard and proudly worn the drum and feather during our clip here."

Whittingham co-coached the Fiesta Bowl with Utah successful 2004, and past took implicit arsenic the imperishable caput manager the pursuing season. Whittingham led Utah to a winning grounds successful 18 of his 21 seasons.

This season, Utah is 10-2 and astatine 1 constituent ranked No. 13 successful the AP poll, conscionable missing retired connected the College Football Playoff (CFB).

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Utah Utes caput manager Kyle Whittingham reacts during the 2nd fractional against the Kansas Jayhawks astatine David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium successful Lawrence, Kansas, connected Nov. 28, 2025. (Jay Biggerstaff/Imagn Images)

Whittingham was named the Western Athletic Conference antiaircraft subordinate of the twelvemonth successful 1981 successful his elder year. 

Before transitioning into coaching, Whittingham played successful some the USFL and the CFL from 1982 to 1984 earlier opening his coaching vocation arsenic a GA astatine BYU.

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Whittingham joined the Utah unit successful 1994 and roseate done the ranks. He began arsenic the antiaircraft enactment coach, and yet became the antiaircraft coordinator earlier becoming the team’s caput coach. 

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His last crippled connected the sidelines volition beryllium the team’s vessel crippled against Nebraska. Whittingham, who is 11-6 successful vessel games arsenic a caput coach, volition look to extremity his tenure with a triumph connected Dec. 31. 

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