Utah Utes football: Whittingham agrees to new 5-year deal

Published: Monday, Dec. 29, 2008 4:00 p.m. MST
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
NEW ORLEANS — University of Utah head football coach Kyle Whittingham and Director of Athletics Dr. Chris Hill have agreed to a new contract that will pay the Ute coach $6 million over the next five years. The pair signed the agreement today in New Orleans, where the Utah football team is preparing for its Jan. 2 Allstate Sugar Bowl game with Alabama.

The contract, which will pay Whittingham $1.2 million annually, includes a base salary of $200,000. The remainder will come from radio and television rights, appearance fees, public speaking, fundraising and official outfitter compensation from Under Armour.

"When I hired Kyle four years ago, I felt he was the best person for the job, and the fact that we are here at a BCS bowl, with a 12-0 record and a No. 7 national ranking bears that out," said Hill. "We are elated that Kyle feels the same commitment to the University of Utah that we have to him and our football program. Kyle does things the right way, his players excel not only on the field, but in the classroom and the community, and he is an excellent ambassador for our university."

Said Whittingham, "I am very happy here at the University of Utah and feel fortunate to coach in a place where we can attract quality student-athletes who can compete at the highest level. I appreciate the support that Dr. Hill and President Young have given me and also the incredible support the community has shown for our football team."

Story continues below
Whittingham is 36-14 in four years as Utah's head coach and is in his 15th year on the staff. He served as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator from 1994-2004, before accepting the head job in December of 2004. Whittingham is 3-0 in bowl games as the head coach and has coached in all of Utah's seven-straight bowl wins as either a head or assistant coach.

Recent comments

Having spent the last 10 years of my life in Tennessee in the middle...

Tennesse Ute | Jan. 9, 2009 at 8:41 a.m.

Congrats to Whit! To all of you complaining about the 1.2, are you...

another smart Idaho Spud | Dec. 31, 2008 at 2:35 p.m.

"Lets remember, a large amount of these salaries come from tax...

yewts | 10:35 a.m. | Dec. 31, 2008 at 11:21 a.m.

Image

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham watches his team as the Utes practice at Tulane University in preparation for Sugar Bowl game Friday against Alabama.

Related content
previousnext

Latest comments

4 players sign with Utes

Jimmy-ball is for real. I believe in Coach Boylen - when he's through we'll...

Hmm. THAT didn't align as it showed when I posted it. I'll try again ...

This is evidence: Choosing to discriminate does not make you a protected...

'You are making the unfounded assumption that this is caused directly by a...

Celtics crush Jazz

This Boozer mess needs to be cleaned up, NOW.

WHO Stats - these are useful as general guidelines but they do not prove that...

The subsidies for so-called renewables average 100 times those for fossil and...

Celtics crush Jazz

Ladies and Gentilmen your Utah Jazz. Ha Ha He He Oh Oh Ho Ho he he ha...

is going to have their hands full this weekend. Go UTES!

I don't need to back up what I said the evidence is clear as mud on the wall....

Advertisements
Advertisement