Las Vegas • Kyle Whittingham, donning a black blazer and shirt, eased into his chair on the main stage at Big 12 Media Days for the first time. By the time he was finished, you could be forgiven for wondering if it might be his last. In between, as reporters asked questions from rows of tables inside Allegiant Stadium, Whittingham had a moment of clarity.
This was his fourth conference transition since joining the Utes’ coaching staff in 1994 and later taking the head coaching job in 2004. He started in the WAC, joined the Mountain West, was on the forefront of the implosion of the Pac-12 and, now, is one of the most tenured and winningest coaches in the new Big 12. While Whittingham said he is feeling as “energized as ever,” amid the changing landscape of the conference, he also suggested this week that his long, successful career will be ending soon enough.
From earlier today: Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham broke down his excitement for Big 12 Media Days and joining a new conference. He said there is an “expectation” for the #Utes to compete for championships, especially in the 12-team CFP: pic.twitter.
com/UCpsSYIewq The 64-year-old Whittingham, who once said he wouldn’t coach past age 65 , added another date to monitor: Utah’s 2027 season-opener against Miami in the Vegas Kickoff Classic. “I probably won’t be sitting here in this chair, but somebody will,” Whittingham said at the podium on Tuesday. Even with his small hints, Utah’s head coach main.
