SALT LAKE CITY — Kyle Whittingham, whose 177 victories as the University of Utah’s head football coach are the most in program history, will be stepping down after the Utes’ appearance in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 31.
“The time is right to step down from my position as the head football coach at the University of Utah,” Whittingham said in a statement released Friday. “It’s been an honor and a privilege to lead the program for the past 21 years, and I’m very grateful for the relationships forged with all the players and assistant coaches that have worked so hard and proudly worn the drum and feather during our time here. The opportunity to guide so many talented young men as they pursued their goals — both on and off the field, has truly been a blessing.”
Utah, which finished the 2025 regular season 10-2 overall and 7-2 in Big 12 play, will take on Big Ten member Nebraska (7-5) on New Year’s Eve at Allegiant Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders.
Whittingham has been the head coach at Utah since December 2004 — he was co-head coach with Urban Meyer for that season’s Fiesta Bowl, Meyer’s last game before leaving to take over for the Florida Gators — and a member of the coaching staff there since 1994. He posted a 177-88 (.668) record over 21 seasons at the helm, and Utah finished with 18 winning seasons under Whittingham while also winning at least 10 games eight times.
During his tenure, Whittingham twice helped Utah navigate conference changes. The Utes moved from the Mountain West to the Pac-12 in 2011, then departed the Pac-12 for the Big 12 in 2024.