Throwback Thursday: LaVell Edwards Coaching Tree

#8 – Kyle Whittingham

Nov 16, 2013; Eugene, OR, USA; Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham stands on the field against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium. The Ducks won 44-21. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

Kyle Whittingham was a heralded linebacker for BYU from 1978 through 1981.  He earned First Team All-WAC honors as a linebacker and also earned WAC Defensive Player of the Year honors.  He also earned the Defensive MVP of the 1981 Holiday Bowl.  After graduating from BYU, he was hired by LaVell Edwards as a graduate assistant coach at BYU for two seasons.  After almost a decade of coaching stints at small schools, Whittingham was hired as defensive line coach at the University of Utah in 1994.  He would eventually become the defensive coordinator the next year, and would run the defense for the next decade.  He would succeed Urban Meyer as head coach in 2005, and remains the head coach for the Utes today.  During his tenure at Utah, Whittingham has posted a 76-39 record and has won six out of seven bowl games.  Whittingham’s most successful season took place in 2008, where the Utes finished 13-0, won the conference championship, and defeated Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.  Whittingham earned AFCA Coach of the Year honors in 2008.