Utah Utes football: Brian Johnson joins Utah coaching staff

SALT LAKE CITY — Brian Johnson was just 16 years old when he enrolled at the University of Utah as Alex Smith's understudy.

Now, at the ripe old age of 22, Johnson is taking on another big role.

Just a year after completing his record-setting career with Most Outstanding Player honors in the Sugar Bowl, Johnson has been hired to coach the Utes' quarterbacks.

"It's not intimidating at all. I see it as an opportunity and as a challenge to better myself, to better the program and to help the quarterbacks as well," Johnson said. "I think it's a win-win situation for everybody. I can't let my age be a deterrent as far as me going out there and trying to get the job done coaching the quarterbacks."

Johnson's age is not an issue as far as Utah coach Kyle Whittingham is concerned.

"Not at all. He's been ahead of the curve in that regard for years now," Whittingham explained. "So that was not even a consideration. He's a unique guy, a unique individual."

The winningest quarterback in U. history, who won 21 of his final 22 starts and 26 games overall, doesn't turn 23 until Feb. 16.

"I've kind of been doing things at a young age my entire life. It's nothing really new to me," Johnson said. "This challenge presented itself and it's obviously an opportunity that you can't turn down. It's something that doesn't happen a lot."

Utah had a coaching staff vacancy open up when cornerbacks coach J.D. Williams accepted a co-defensive coordinator/assistant head coach post at UNLV.

Hiring Johnson gives the Utes more offensive than defensive coaches. Whittingham, however, plans to balance things out later. He has options. Running backs coach Aaron Alford and tight ends coach Jay Hill have experience coaching cornerbacks.

It's a luxury that erases the need for a timetable.

"That stuff has not been decided yet. I'm going to wait. There's still a lot going on, movement in the country as far as coaches and so forth," Whittingham said. "So I don't want to have to make two moves. Right now our focus is to just keep recruiting."

Speaking of which, the Utes got somebody they really wanted to help in the process. Getting Johnson, Whittingham noted, is a big deal. They jumped on the opportunity to get him.