Whitt’s Decision

[Anfernee]

“I will evaluate, obviously, after the season is over, but my decision will be made based on what’s best for the program, not what’s best for me.” Whittingham said when asked about potentially completing his 21st season with Utah next year. “It will be completely determined on how I feel this program is best served going forward. What is best for the program will dictate my decision. Just continue to emphasize ‘put the program first,’ and whatever puts the program in the best situation moving forward, that’s the decision I’ll make. It’s just an evaluation process for me and my family to decide what’s best.”

My hunch here is Whitt will hang it up. Just my feeling after hearing him today.

[Roy Rangum]

I’ve said a lot about Whitt lately, most predominantly that he needs to go, and at one point I shared that I’ve heard he’s also an a-hole to work with sometimes. But a lot of different things can simultaneously be true. While I think he should retire, I also think he has also probably done more for Utah football than anyone else (although Urban Meyer is right up there with him, as I’m not sure that Whitts run happens without Urban). While he may be a difficult person to work with, he can also still be a really good human being.

If Whitt were to willingly walk away at the end of this season for the good of the program, that would make me respect him even more. Not a lot of people walk away from bags of cash.

[USS Utah]

“I’ve heard he’s also an a-hole to work with sometimes.”

Aren’t we all?

[Utah]

I own a business. Bought it 4 years ago. I try to be kind and understanding. I listen to my employees, try to find out why they haven’t done what I’ve asked them to do and then tried to work together to find a solution. Then they make the same mistake.

What I am realizing is most people are either dumb, don’t care or lazy as s**t.

And being nice and kind and understanding just signals to them that they can be even dumber and lazier and care less.

Being an asshole…that gets things done. People respond to that.

So anytime I hear about a boss who is labeled an asshole…my first reaction is “I get it. You want to get stuff done, you have to be an asshole.”

There are employees that are exceptions. But not a lot.

[USS Utah]

I read a story once about a U.S. Navy officer reporting aboard a ship as the new executive officer. The captain told him “One of the two of us is going to be an S.O.B., and its not going to be me.”

[China Rider]

I had a mentor in a fortune 500 who taught me that if I didn’t p**s someone off once a day, I’m not doing my job. A valuable lesson in the business world if you want to succeed.

[Utah]

Yeah. I tried. I really did. I tried to listen and be a good boss and praise and encourage and talk things through.

It doesn’t work. Most people are just assholes. But what does work is being a dick.

When I’m a dick, s**t gets done. When I’m understanding and thoughtful and “let’s make a plan together” and “how can I help you accomplish your goals…”

Nothing gets done. It sucks, but it is what it is.

[SkinyUte]

So anytime I hear about a boss who is labeled an asshole…my first reaction is “I get it. You want to get stuff done, you have to be an asshole.”

To a point, sure. But I’ve worked with way too many “leaders” whose only two modes were “Off” and “1000% Asshole”.

There definitely needs to be a balance, unless you’re fine with simply churning through employees every other day.

[2008 National Champ]

I wonder if Whitt reverts to coachspeak at home.

Wife: Did you take out the garbage like I asked?

Whitt: I will evaluate, obviously, before the day is over, but my removal of the garbage will be based on what’s best for the house, not what’s best for me. It will be completely determined on how I feel this house is best served going forward. What is best for the house will dictate my decision. Just continue to emphasize ‘put the house first,’ and whatever puts the house in the best situation moving forward, that’s when I’ll decide to remove the garbage from the house. It’s just an evaluation process to decide what’s best.”

[Utah]

This sounds like my teenager.

[Trailgoat]

Good one NC. Yeah, a lot of coach speak in yesterday’s routine, obligatory Q&A with the restrained local media. Not much talk about the next game. Have to think Friday’s game has the tone of a back yard Turkey bowl. Hope all the players on both sides have fun. BS KW’s decision is determined solely by doing what’s best for the team. A piece of the decision, sure. Bottom line, KW leveraged the BYU job, Tennessee job and 2021 success to up his contract pay at Utah. KW’s going to do what is best for KW and his family, as he should. As mentioned in this thread, KW’s in the early years of his big pay day contract leaving a ton of cash on the table if he steps away as HC. A couple bad seasons far defines his time at Utah. Dude’s had a fantastic career able to live near his family in a great place. Go Utes!

[ladyinred]

I agree that this makes it sound more like a possibility he retires, but I hope he doesn’t this year. I think what’s best for the program is that he stays one more year to help Morgan right the ship and make a stable transition.

[Jim Vanderhoof]

Doesn’t he have a consultant contract? Scalley could be HC and Whitt could still be involved in a consulting role.

Coach in waiting shouldn’t last over a year. I think the plan was make the CFP and retire.

[jshame17]

If he stays, he needs to publicly state that this is Morgan’s team and he is now Co-head coach in a supporting role. , or recruiting will tank even further.

We are rebuilding an entire offense around a coach that has all but stated has doesn’t have answers for the offense, an empty RB room (Glover’s gone, Mitchell?), empty QB room (Wilson transfer? Rose) is brining in a new OC (all new support staff?) and is walking away at any point.

I can’t imagine an easier counter pitch to any recruit that is considering another school.

[Ute Dub]

If he’s not “all in”, you know the rest.

[Ute Boy]

I think his statement shows he’s already decided to hang it up. He totally mismanaged the offense the past two years and he knows it. What’s best for the Utes going forward is not having Whitt on the sideline. Game over for Whitt.

[Utah]

Maybe he will retire.

But’s it’s hard to walk away from 20 million dollars. Intelligent people don’t do that.

[utefansince79]

Not entirely about the money. Kyle had a chance to head to Tennessee (for a ma$$ive pay increase) back in our MWC days but decided to stick around.

But our offense is at rock bottom right now. Two non-offensive TDs weren’t enough last Saturday to earn a win.

Big changes are needed to fix this mess. One offensive touchdown will not be enough to win very often.

[SalUteopia]

^^ This. Whitt could’ve easily earned more money by going elsewhere in his heydays, so I don’t fully get the 20 MM angle. Maybe it is a factor, but it may or may not be a substantial one.

[jshame17]

“In his heydays” implies that his best days are behind him. If they are, time to cut bait and move on, right?

In the past, He knew he could leverage for higher pay, all while staying at a program that would give him the longest leash possible.

If he had taken any of those other jobs, he would have been fired by now with his offensive issues, that have become as synonymous with Whitt, as him leading one of the nations best defenses each year.

[2008 National Champ]

Sal: to me the calculus is different. The Tennessee job, or the SC job he was offered after 2008, would have required moving his family and going to a place where the expectations are always going to be oversized. Not many coaches get the choice of staying home which was always Utah’s best selling point for Whitt.

Retiring early, on the other hand, is almost completely about leaving money on the table. He still gets his retirement bonus, and his 3 years as program advisor. But the 6.5 MM per just goes bye-bye. Maybe he only got 75 cents on the dollar by staying at Utah over Tennessee / SC but he was still making great money to be in the most comfortable place he could ever imagine.

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