Timeline: A look back at Kyle Whittingham’s head coaching tenure at Utah

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Utah coach Kyle Whittingham officially announced that he is stepping down as University of Utah football coach on Friday after 21 seasons as head coach of the Utes.

Here’s a look at significant milestones and moments from Whittingham’s 21-year head coaching career at Utah.

Dec. 8, 2004: Whittingham is officially announced as Utah’s next head football coach, choosing Utah over the opening at his alma mater, BYU. He replaced Urban Meyer, who left for Florida after the 2004 Utes went 12-0 and won the 2005 Fiesta Bowl.

Sept. 2, 2005: Utah officially kicks off the Whittingham era with a 27-24 victory over Arizona.

Nov. 19, 2005: Whittingham earns his first victory over his alma mater as Utah defeated BYU 41-34 in overtime in Provo to become bowl eligible. Quaterback Brett Ratliff threw for four touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime.

Dec. 29, 2005: Utah defeats Georgia Tech and future Hall of Fame receiver Calvin Johnson in the Emerald Bowl. Utah secures a winning season in Whitingham’s first year.

Nov. 6, 2008: After improving Utah’s record to 8-5 in 2006 and then going 9-4 in 2007, perhaps the best season of Whittingham’s career came in 2008.

With a veteran team led by quarterback Brian Johnson, Utah defeated Michigan in Ann Arbor to start the season and won every game leading up to one of the biggest games in school history against TCU.

In front of the school’s first blackout crowd, Johnson led a comeback effort, finding Freddie Brown in the end zone with 47 seconds left for the game-winning score.

No. 8 Utah defeated No. 12 TCU 13-10 to keep its undefeated season alive.

Nov. 22, 2008: Utah blew out No. 14 BYU 48-24 to wrap up a perfect 12-0 regular season and clinch its second BCS berth.

Jan. 2, 2009: The No. 6 Utes were a heavy underdog against No. 4 Alabama in the 2009 Sugar Bowl, but Utah shocked the nation by racing out to a 21-0 lead en route to a 31-17 win over the Crimson Tide. The win polished off Utah’s 13-0 undefeated season and the Utes ended the year ranked No. 2 in the AP poll.

Jan. 16, 2009: Whittingham wins the Paul “Bear” Bryant College Football Coach of the Year Award.

January 2010:Whittingham turns down the Tennessee head coaching job, deciding to stay at Utah.

June 17, 2010: Utah accepts an invite to the Pac-12 Conference. The move to a power conference was helped by the Utes’ football success under Whittingham and changed the program, and university, forever.

2010: Utah goes 10-3 for the second-straight year, but a 47-7 loss to No. 4 TCU stops the Utes’ dreams of yet another BCS-busting season.

2011: Utah surprises with an 8-5 season in its first year of Pac-12 play, but missed kicks from Coleman Petersen in the regular-season finale vs. Colorado cost the Utes a Pac-12 South title.

2014: After a pair of 5-7 seasons, Utah begins its climb to the Pac-12 mountaintop with a 9-4 season. The Utes posted winning seasons from 2014-18, but November meltdowns kept Utah from reaching the Pac-12 title game.

Nov. 18, 2018: Utah finally gets over the hump, punching its ticket to the Pac-12 championship game with a win at Colorado and an Oregon win over Arizona State.

Nov. 30, 2018: Utah competes in its first Pac-12 championship game, but is without star QB Tyler Huntley and star RB Zack Moss. Utah’s offense never gets into gear, and the Utes lose 10-3 to Washington.

Aug. 29, 2019: Utah defeats BYU 30-12 in the 2019 season opener. The Utes pick off Zach Wilson twice, including a pick-six, and force a fumble, capitalizing with touchdowns on all three turnovers. Whittingham extends his win streak over his former school to nine.

Dec. 7, 2019: Utah has one of its most promising regular seasons under Whittingham, going 10-2 and rising to No. 5 in the College Football Playoff rankings at the end of the regular season. The Utes go to the Pac-12 title game for the second year in a row. A win would have likely put Utah in the CFP, but Oregon dominates the Utes, 37-15.

Dec. 11, 2019: Whittingham wins his first Pac-12 Coach of the Year award. He’s also named the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year.

Nov. 20, 2021: Whittingham earns his 142nd win and becomes the school’s winningest coach as No. 23 Utah beats No. 3 Oregon 38-7. Britain Covey’s punt return for a touchdown helped Utah back to the Pac-12 championship game.

Dec. 3, 2021: In a rematch between Utah and Oregon in the Pac-12 title game, the Utes race out to a 23-0 lead and blow out the Ducks again, 38-10. It was the high-water mark of Whittingham’s career after guiding the Utes from an overachieving Mountain West program to a power conference champion.

Dec. 7, 2021: Whittingham wins the Pac-12’s Coach of the Year award for the second time in his career.

Jan. 1, 2022: Utah plays in the Rose Bowl for the first time in school history, taking on Ohio State. Running back Micah Bernard has to play cornerback for the Utes, who also lose star quarterback Cam Rising mid-game. Backup Bryson Barnes ties the game at 45 with 1:54 left, but the Buckeyes kick a field goal to win 48-45.

Nov. 26, 2022: In one of the wildest days in Whittingham’s career, Utah’s win at Colorado, Washington’s win at Washington State, Oregon State’s win vs. Oregon and UCLA’s win at Cal (on Friday) sent the Utes to back-to-back Pac-12 championship games by virtue of a four-step tiebreaker.

Dec. 2, 2022: Utah outscores USC 30-7 in the second half of the Pac-12 championship game, defeating Heisman winner Caleb Williams and the Trojans for the second time that season. The 47-24 win marks Utah’s second straight Pac-12 championship.

Jan. 2, 2023: Utah plays in its second consecutive Rose Bowl, but Rising is injured early in the third quarter and Penn State rolls to a 35-21 victory.

Nov. 28, 2025: Whittingham coaches his final regular-season game in his 21-year career. Utah defeats Kansas 31-21 to secure a 10-2 regular season for the first time since 2019. It’s Whittingham’s 167th win at Utah.

Dec. 12, 2025: Whittingham announces his decision to step down as head coach of the Utes after 21 seasons.

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