Morgan Scalley (born October 8, 1979) is an American college football coach. He is the defensive coordinator and safeties coach at the University of Utah, positions he has held since 2016. He played high school football at Highland High School in Salt Lake City and college football at Utah as a defensive back.
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Defensive coordinator, safeties coach |
| Team | Utah |
| Conference | Big 12 |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | October 8, 1979 Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 2001–2004 | Utah |
| Position(s) | Defensive back |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 2007 | Utah (GA) |
| 2008 | Utah (S) |
| 2009–2014 | Utah (S/RC) |
| 2015 | Utah (ST/S/RC) |
| 2016–present | Utah (DC/S) |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 2006 | Utah (admin asst.) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Awards | |
| |
Playing career
editScalley was a defensive back at Utah from 2001 to 2004. During his career at Utah, he was named an All-American, Mountain West co-defensive player of the year, a unanimous first-team all-conference safety, as well as a second-team All-Mountain West Conference in 2003 and a 2× Academic All-American.[1][2] Scalley was presented with the inaugural Pat Tillman award during the 2005 East-West Shrine Game.
Coaching career
editUtah
editScalley began working at Utah in 2006 as an administrative assistant before being named a graduate assistant in 2007. He was promoted to safeties coach in 2008, also assisting with special teams.[3] He added the title of recruiting coordinator in 2009, and also added special teams duties in 2015.[4]
Scalley was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2016 following the retirement of John Pease.[5]
As the lead strategist of one of the nation's top defenses, Scalley was named a Broyles Award finalist in 2019, an award given to the top assistant coach in college football.[6]
On July 1, 2024, Scalley was announced as the Utes' head-coach-in-waiting.[7] He previously held that designation until it was rescinded in 2020 following an investigation into his alleged use of improper racial stereotypes.
Suspension
editScalley admitted in June 2020 that he used a racial slur in a text to a recruit in 2013 and was promptly suspended by the university.[8] An investigation revealed that there were also two additional incidents where Scalley was accused of using racial stereotypes.[9] He was reinstated to his position as defensive coordinator after an external review by the university, but was reported to have taken a significant pay cut and the offer from the university to be its head-coach-in-waiting rescinded among other penalties.[10]
Personal life
editScalley is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and served on a mission to Munich, Germany before playing at Utah.[11] He and his wife Liz have three children: Madeline, Emma, and Andrew.
References
edit- ^ "Smith, Scalley, Meyer Named Best in MWC". University of Utah Athletics. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "2003 All-MWC Football Team Announced". University of Wyoming Athletics. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "Morgan Scalley To Coach Ute Safeties". University of Utah Athletics. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "Utah Football Fills Coaching Vacancies". University of Utah Athletics. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "Pease retires, Utah names Scalley defensive coordinator". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "Utah's Morgan Scalley is a finalist, but not the winner of the Broyles Award". Deseret News. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "Mark Harlan Announces Future Succession Plan for Utah Football Leadership". University of Utah Athletics. July 1, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
- ^ "Utah DC Morgan Scalley suspended indefinitely for use of racial slur in 2013 text message". USA Today. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "What were the details of the Morgan Scalley investigation?". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "Utah DC Morgan Scalley retains job, but takes pay cut, after review of racial slur". ESPN. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ "Utah DC Morgan Scalley's Childhood Friends Offer Thoughts On His Character". KSL Sports. Retrieved September 27, 2020.