SALT LAKE CITY – College of Utah Director of Athletics Mark Harlan shared that the College of Utah entered into a brand new employment settlement with Utah Soccer defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley on Nov. 23, 2023, that formally designates Scalley because the soccer program’s head coach in ready. Scalley is coming into his seventeenth yr on employees with the Utes underneath Head Coach Kyle Whittingham in 2024.
“Coach Whittingham has constructed Utah Soccer into one of many nation’s elite applications via a powerful tradition, custom and distinctive student-athletes, and he has been clear about his intentions of continuous to guide this unimaginable Utah Soccer program as we transfer into the Massive 12 Convention and into the brand new expanded Faculty Soccer Playoff,” mentioned Harlan. “Nonetheless, we should plan for the longer term, and Coach Whittingham and I each strongly imagine that that future lies with Morgan Scalley. Morgan has performed a essential position in our success via his embodiment of our core values and his management, and I’ve witnessed first hand his progress as a coach and as an individual during the last a number of years. He’s an elite coach who has been skilled by the perfect – Coach Whittingham – and every time it’s time for Morgan to take the helm, I’ve little doubt that our program will proceed to have success.”
Utah’s all-time winningest head coach, Whittingham will proceed to guide the Utes into a brand new period as he enters his twentieth season as head coach. Whittingham’s 10 assistant coaches have a mean tenure of seven.4 seasons with the Utes, probably the most longevity by any energy convention employees, which incorporates Scalley’s 16 years with this system.
“Morgan Scalley is an distinctive soccer coach and his naming as the top coach in ready on the College of Utah is a testomony to that,” mentioned Whittingham. “It’s a distinction he has earned not solely due to his excellent teaching skills, but in addition due to his selfless dedication to this system in addition to to the Utah Athletics household. The tradition and custom inside Utah Soccer is some extent of satisfaction for our employees, and when the time comes for a transition within the management of our program, we all know that Morgan will keep it up these traditions the Utah Soccer method.”
Scalley, a former Utah All-America security, will start his ninth season because the defensive coordinator in 2024 and has been teaching the safeties since becoming a member of the employees full-time in 2008. He served as Utah’s recruiting coordinator from 2009-15 and particular groups coordinator in 2015, after starting his teaching profession as an administrative assistant with the Utes in 2006.
“Utah Soccer and Utah Athletics have at all times been residence to me and my household, and I’m honored to obtain this distinction,” Scalley mentioned. “I wish to thank President Randall, Coach Whittingham and Mark Harlan for the belief they’ve proven in me, and I stay dedicated to my continued progress as a coach and particular person, and as a member of the wonderful College of Utah neighborhood. Our employees is happy to begin a brand new period of Utah Soccer within the Massive 12 this fall underneath Coach Whittingham and to proceed the traditions which have turn out to be part of our proud historical past.”
Referred to as one of many brightest defensive minds within the enterprise, Scalley has led the Utes to finishes within the top-half of the Pac-12 in complete protection seven instances, rating second nationally and first within the league in 2019. He has directed the Pac-12’s prime dashing protection 5 instances within the final eight years, together with top-five nationwide rankings in 2018, 2019 and 2023. Utah has completed on the prime of the convention in sacks and tackles for loss 3 times underneath Scalley, most not too long ago in back-to-back seasons (2021, 2022). The crew additionally completed the 2018 season ranked eleventh nationally and first within the Pac-12 in sacks.
Individually, Scalley has coached 13 All-People (4 consensus or unanimous), 19 first-team all-conference picks and 5 freshmen All-People. He has additionally seen 29 of his proteges attain the NFL, together with Devin Lloyd turning into the highest-drafted linebacker in class historical past in 2022 (1st spherical, twenty seventh total).
The Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah, native lettered for the Utes from 2001-04 and was the 2004 Mountain West Co-Defensive Participant of the 12 months, a second-team All-American (AP, Sports activities Illustrated) and unanimous first-team all-conference security. He was second-team All-MWC at defensive again in 2003 and honorable point out All-MWC as a punt returner in 2001 and 2002.
As a senior, he captained Utah to a 12-0 document, a Fiesta Bowl win over Pittsburgh and a No. 4 nationwide rating in a historic season through which Utah grew to become the primary non-BCS crew to play in a BCS bowl recreation.
The 2-time first-team Educational All-American was offered with the inaugural Pat Tillman Award in the course of the 2005 East-West Shrine Sport, recognizing him for his character, intelligence, sportsmanship and repair. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Utah in 2004 with a bachelor’s diploma in mass communication, and earned a Grasp’s in enterprise administration from the U in 2006.