Who is Utah football head coach Morgan Scalley? What to know

Colorado will face Utah on Saturday, with first-year head coach Morgan Scalley leading the No. 11 Utes as they visit Folsom Field for an 8:15 p.m. MT kickoff.

Scalley succeeded Kyle Whittingham after spending 10 seasons as Whittingham's defensive coordinator. The Utes are 5-0 overall and 2-0 in Big 12 play after a 41-24 win over Kansas on Oct. 10.

Morgan Scalley's background at Utah

Scalley played safety for Utah from 2001-04 and captained the undefeated 2004 team that won the Fiesta Bowl. He earned second-team AP All-America honors and shared Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year recognition that season.

He joined Utah's staff as an administrative assistant in 2006 and became the safeties coach in 2008. He later served as recruiting coordinator and special teams coordinator before taking over the defense in 2016.

Morgan Scalley on potentially facing former Utah QB Isaac Wilson this Saturday and if the familiarity has an impact in preparation for both Utah and Colorado:

"He did a really good job as a scout team quarterback and really smart. He's bright. You look at the throws that he… pic.twitter.com/FK7nYVxIJp

— Joe Coles (@JoeAColes) October 12, 2026

Defensive coordinator experience

Utah finished second nationally in total defense in 2019, when Scalley was a finalist for the Broyles Award, which recognizes the country's top assistant coach. His 2025 defense allowed 18.7 points per game and ranked fifth nationally in passing efficiency defense.

He helped develop linebacker Devin Lloyd, whom Jacksonville selected 27th overall in the 2022 NFL draft.

Familiarity with Isaac Wilson

Scalley also coached Utah's defense while Colorado quarterback Isaac Wilson was with the Utes. Deion Sanders announced Tuesday that Wilson will start against his former team.

"Jason Stokes is going to know some things, but at the same time, we have a feel for his strengths and weaknesses," Scalley said Monday while discussing Wilson and Colorado cornerback Jason Stokes Jr., another Utah transfer.

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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Who is Utah football head coach Morgan Scalley? What to know