Looks like we’re hiring Mark Atuaia from wazzu as RB coach

[NarfUte]

Even better if he brings Wayshawn Parker…

https://twitter.com/mzenitz/status/1867242086388707822

“Utah is set to hire Washington State running backs coach and associate head coach Mark Atuaia, sources tell
@CBSSports
/
@247Sports
.

Atuaia, who worked at Virginia before Washington State, helped Wazzu rank 11th nationally in scoring offense this year.
“

[ProudUte]

I hope this is true. I liked Ganther when he played at Utah, but he has not been a great RB coach IMO.

Atuaia has a solid resume, so I hope it’s true. He has definitely resigned from WSU. However, there are some rumors he will be the OC for Bronco at USU.

[Rick]

Bronco has announced his OC – he’s coming from San Jose St. and has worked with Bronco and at USU before. I forget his name but not Atuaia.

[EagleMountainUte]

Would be more good news and cycling out the bad rubbish that has accumulated offensively from Whitt. I am starting to believe Beck will be able to run what he wants.

[Tony (admin)]

Interesting!

[Utes 69]

thank heavens ganther was not working out

[Utesbyfive]

Have they announced what’s happening with Ganther specifically? Has he been booted, or is he moving to another role with the team?

[lgt4141]

This is from his WSU bio page “Atuaia has a history of working with big, strong and powerful running backs.” That is what Utah traditionally does best with. Hopefully he can bring that back.

[chinngiskhaan]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let this be true. Ganther has not done a good job.

[ThurstonW]

Based on a 9:30a KSL article, looks like it HAS happened.

[highlandute7]

Staff changes

Ganther and Whitted gone.

Micah Simon in at WR coach.

[Ute Dub]

Oh hell yeah! Do we get a RB transfer from Wazzu out of it?

[Holladay Ute]

Happy about the RB update. Love Ganther, but it just felt like that room was on a downward trajectory under his watch. Atuaia seems like a great fit. Unfortunately, he’s a Cougar. And his Twitter farewell to WSU was kind of strange. Sounds like he had some beef w/ the WSU fans.

Not sure what to think of the WR update. I wouldn’t call Alvis Whitted a difference maker or someone I’m sad to see go, but I’m not sure what Micah Simon brings to the table? I guess he was Beck’s WR coach at UNM so maybe just the continuity. Not much coaching experience and, again, he’s unfortunately a Cougar.

Report: Kyle Whittingham Expected To Announce Coaching Staff Changes

[lgt4141]

Why the hate on hiring former Cougars? Whitt was a Cougar. That has worked our pretty well for the last 30 years. The offensive staff has had some major position changes which everyone wanted.

[Holladay Ute]

Fair points. I wasn’t saying they’re inherently lower quality coaches just b/c they were Cougars. Obviously, I just want Utah to take the best possible coach that’s available. I’m just saying that, all things being equal, I’d prefer a coach that wasn’t a Cougar. I don’t want to listen to all my BYU friends take jabs and say, “Guess where all of Utah’s coaches came from?” I guess we could say the same thing of them though (Sitake, Roderick, and Hill coached at Utah).

[jshame17]

So, more Cooogs on the coaching staff?

You’d think with all these cougars around, the Wilson’s would want to stick around 🤨…. Ba dum tisss…

[2008 National Champ]

Well, I got my wish that if Whitt came back it would be with an overhauled Offensive staff.

Now I wish that I had been more specific and the overhaul wouldn’t be with (3) former players from the parochial school.,,

[The Miami Ute]

Well, LOL, the great man himself is a Cougar…hard to get away from stuff living in Utah…

[UM4G]

If it takes an entire coaching staff of former BYU players to get us into the playoffs I’ll take it lol

[Anfernee]

He can recruit, has connections everywhere. Played HS at Kahuku. IYKYK

[NashvilleUte]

Legitimate connections to Kahuku would be great!

[Author]

Posts