Hypothetical: Who’s your pick for Utah HC (assuming KW leaves)?

[SalUteopia]

Since most people are clamoring for Whitt’s “retirement”, who is your hypothetical pick for the HC job?
Someone mentioned Petersen and DeBoer in another thread, and I’d 100% go with either over Scalley. I’m a big Whitt fan, but I’d have taken Petersen even in Whitt’s best years; he’s that good IMO!
Who’s your hypothetical pick?

Realistically, Whitt will be around for at least another year, and then Scalley will take over. FWIW, I do think Scalley will grow into a very good HC.

[ryynoo]

Pete Carrol! 😉

[The Miami Ute]

Urban Meyer, but I only chose him because Ron McBride is too old.

[Utah]

Jon Sumrall
Ryan Silverfield
Jamey Chadwell
Spencer Danielson
Barry Odom
Jay Hill
Jake Dickert

There is a list of successful HC’s.

I’d also talk to Dan Mullin and see if Chris Petersen is interested. If DeBoer became available I’d go hard after him.

[Tony (admin)]

Chris Petersen. He’s probably got it too easy now though.

[Kellso]

Scalley. No question.

[Jim Vanderhoof]

Scalley with Whitt as a consultant. OC outside the program DC within (Swan) or go after Jay Hill.

[UM4G]

Cignetti would be my first choice, but he seems intent to stay in Indiana and likely wouldn’t leave for anything short of a blue blood school.

I would like to see the following at least interviewed before it’s just given to Scalley:

– Brian Johnson, he’s had coaching stops at Houston, Miss St & Florida with Dan Mullen, had a hand in coaching Dak Prescott, Jalen Hurts, and Jayden Daniels, also was the one to recruit Anthony Richardson to Florida.
– Spencer Danielson (BSU)
– Barry Odom (UNLV)
– Rhett Lashlee (SMU)
– Eric Morris (North Texas)

[2008 National Champ]

Cignetti just signed a deal worth ~ 1.5 MM more per annum than Whitt makes. That’s a non-starter

And I don’t see Lashlee taking interviews from Utah after putting his school in the playoff. Or at least the ACC CCG with a chance at the playoff

Odom is intriguing. SEC experience, understands that offense isn’t a four letter word, would represent a big pay increase. Probably only looking at a two-year hire though if he does well

[UM4G]

Yeah I debated including him for that reason, plus their boosters could probably match or exceed any offer we make. Left off the Louisville coach for the same reason.

[Utah]

I think the reality is, we may revert back to a stepping school for coaches.

Not being in the SEC/Big 10 means we won’t be able to pay as well. The Big 12 is just a better paid MWC again.

That is the one big plus for Scalley: He’d never leave. Neither would Jay Hill.

Every other coach outside of those two? Probably just here to Urban Meyer us. Which I’m ok with.

[2008 National Champ]

Probably just here to Urban Meyer us. Which I’m ok with.

If those two years are DeBoer at UW level, sign me up.

The truth as I see it is that any coach who wins 9 games at Utah will be a commodity going forward. And I’ll take as many of those as you’re willing to throw at me. Whitt is a unicorn and current recruits have no idea who McBride is or that Urban coached at Utah. That’s fan stuff.

Utah’s current recruits see Utah in the same way future coaches outside of Scalley will. Come in, show out, move on and get paid. I say let’s ride that wave instead of pretending it doesn’t exist.

[UM4G]

Sign me up as well. I’ll take 2 to 5 years that results in a playoff run over 20 years of consistency with a Rose Bowl loss ceiling.

[The Miami Ute]

For what it’s worth, here are the salaries of current Big 12 football head coaches with the exception of Sitake:

Highest-Paid Big 12 Football Coaches

1. Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State – $7.75 million
2. Lance Leipold, Kansas – $7.5 million
3. Kyle Whittingham, Utah – $6.525 million
4. Deion Sanders, Colorado – $5.7 million
5. Chris Klieman, Kansas State – $5.25 million
6. Sonny Dykes, TCU – $5,008,414 million
7. Dave Aranda, Baylor – $4,540,885 million
8. Willie Fritz, Houston – $4.5 million
9. Joey McGuire, Texas Tech – $4,247,960
10. Matt Campbell, Iowa State – $4,009,886 million
11. Neal Brown, West Virginia – $4 million
12. Gus Malzahn, UCF – $4 million
13. Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State – $3.95 million
14. Scott Satterfield, Cincinnati – $3.6 million
15. Brent Brennan, Arizona – $3.1 million

With, inflation, let’s say that, before bonuses, Utah can pay its next football coach $7M per annum. I think that would get some nationwide interest.

Now, let’s take a look at the highest-paid football head coaches around the nation:

1 Kirby Smart Georgia $13,282,580
2 Dabo Swinney Clemson $11,132,775*
3 Steve Sarkisian Texas $10,600,000*
4 Lincoln Riley USC $10,043,418*
5 Ryan Day Ohio State $10,021,250
6 Mike Norvell Florida State $10,000,000
7 Kalen DeBoer Alabama $10,000,000*
8 Brian Kelly LSU $9,975,000*
9 Mark Stoops Kentucky $9,013,600*
10 Lane Kiffin Ole Miss $9,000,000*
11 Eliah Drinkwitz Missouri $9,000,000
12 Josh Heupel Tennessee $9,000,000
13 James Franklin Penn State $8,500,000*
14 Dan Lanning Oregon $8,200,000
15 Brent Venables Oklahoma $8,152,000
16 Mario Cristobal Miami (FL) $7,783,059*
17 Mike Gundy Oklahoma State $7,750,000*
18 Luke Fickell Wisconsin $7,725,000
19 Jedd Fisch Washington $7,700,023*
20 Lance Leipold Kansas $7,500,000*
21 Billy Napier Florida $7,370,000
22 Jonathan Smith Michigan State $7,250,000*
23 Kirk Ferentz Iowa $7,000,000*
24 Mike Elko Texas A&M $7,000,000*
25 Hugh Freeze Auburn $6,728,100
26 P.J. Fleck Minnesota $6,700,000*
27 Pat Narduzzi Pittsburgh $6,699,551
28 Marcus Freeman Notre Dame $6,687,754*
29 Bret Bielema Illinois $6,650,000
30 Kyle Whittingham Utah $6,525,000*

Whitt is number #30 after 20 years of consistent success. What strikes me is that there are a lot of coaches in SEC/B1G schools who haven’t achieved the level of what he’s done (look at Sunbelt Billy in Florida, who hasn’t had one winning season yet) and are getting paid more than he is. That’s what sitting at the college football big-boy table does for you.

[AZUTE]

Instead of a hypothetical you should have labeled this thread fantasy choice.

We all know Scalley is the next HC and he’s gonna be great. He’s not Whit Jr he has a different offensive philosophy than Whit. He’s gonna bring young energy to the program.

My fantasy picks

Nick Saban
Jim Harbaugh

[2008 National Champ]

We all know Scalley is the next HC and we hope he’s gonna be great.

FIFY

[Author]

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