BIG 12 CONFERENCE FOOTBALL MEDIA DAYS

July 8, 2026

Morgan Scalley

Ford Center at The Star

Utah Utes

Press Conference

Q. Coach, it's a new era at Utah. How do you want to define Utah football moving forward?

MORGAN SCALLEY: Well, Utah football has had a brand that's very recognizable. It's a physical brand, and it's very family oriented. I don't know that I want to necessarily change that recipe for success. It's maybe just the way the meal is prepared a little bit different, the way we lift and condition. If you ask anyone in our building, what's your culture, they will tell you RSNB -- relentless, smart, nasty ball hawks. And that's just a way of playing and a way of living that I hope defines what we do on the football field.

Q. Coach, you guys are replacing your entire offensive line from last year. How would you assess the progress of the guys that are expected to start this fall?

MORGAN SCALLEY: Still some competition there. You're talking about replacing the offensive line. I'm excited for this group, excited first and foremost because they've got an unbelievable teacher in Jordan Gross, a guy that's done it at the highest level but is an amazing teacher, and the development of those guys has been awesome.

I think you saw that firsthand in the bowl game against Nebraska, the majority of those guys were not starters at the beginning of the season. Those were the guys that you're going to see come the season. Their development both in the weight room and on the football field has been awesome.

I love the story of those guys that have been waiting their turn, that have been grinding and getting the work in and finally have that opportunity, and now it's time. That's a group that I'm very excited about.

Q. Now being introduced to the coaches in this conference, how have you been able to connect with those guys, and have you had any conversations with them?

MORGAN SCALLEY: Great coaches in this conference. Some that I've competed against, some that I recruited. I was a graduate assistant for two years at University of Utah, and they gave me the area of Colorado to recruit.

And I remember seeing this quarterback that I absolutely loved, and he was long-levered, and I couldn't go see him because at the time graduate assistants couldn't go out on the road recruiting. So I had him come to us, and on his own dime he flew out, showed up on campus in a suit and tie and left without an offer. But you know who offered him? Kansas State. It was Collin Klein. Isn't that crazy?

I have relationships with Kenny Dillingham, Kalani Sitake, these guys that I've met. So much respect for the coaches in this league. Really good coaches, good men, and it is a competitive league.

Q. Last year at the rivalry game against BYU, there were lots of threats of violence towards Utah fans. What are you hoping to change with the culture of this rivalry as you take over?

MORGAN SCALLEY: Well, I think the Utah-BYU rivalry is one of the best in the country, honestly. I have so much respect for Kalani and his staff. A lot of his staff I've worked with. But it's definitely a mutual respect, and that's -- you're always going to have the extremes. That's the unfortunate part is you're going to have those extremes where people are doing stuff that you're not proud about.

I just think the way Kalani and I model our relationship with one another and the respect we have for each other and our programs should lead the way, hopefully leads the way.

Q. Coach, when you look at rising from within, not every coach gets to do that, to be with a program that they've obviously loved and supported for such a long time. What does your personal journey mean to you and just what Utah means over the years to now be sitting in that head coach chair?

MORGAN SCALLEY: Oh, it's surreal to be here. My dad played at University of Utah. My entire family went there. Did I dream of becoming head coach? Not until later in my life. But it is a responsibility I don't take lightly. I've had opportunities to do everything within the program except coach offense. I worked in the weight room. I worked as the NFL liaison, the academic coordinator. You name it, I've done it. I think it's uniquely prepared me for this opportunity.

Like I said, I started coaching in 2006, and since that time, there's only been seven teams in college football, in FBS football, that have had three or less coaching changes, head coaching changes, and of those teams it's a 64 percent winning percentage. The teams that have had above three, it's a 54 percent winning percentage. So there's something to be said about continuity and believing in a staff and creating a culture that's sustainable.

So, so grateful to our President Randall and Mark Harlan of having the faith in me to continue that legacy.

Q. You mentioned the motto of the program being relentless, smart, nasty ball hawks. How do you plan on placing your stamp on this program to keep that toughness alive?

MORGAN SCALLEY: Well, that is our culture. Culture is what you believe. It's how you behave based on that belief. And it's the experience that's delivered by that behavior.

It's what we practice every day. It's not just words on walls. It's not just some great creative acronym. It's a way of life. You have to practice it every day.

When you see the behavior that you're asking for from your players and your staff, you promote it. Promote the heck out of it. Yeah! You promote it.

Then you don't permit anything that's counter to that culture. I don't care if you're a first-year freshman walk-on to a fifth-year senior that's going to be a draft pick. Everyone has to be held to the same standard, and our guys have bought into the culture. I'm very excited for it to show up on the football field.

Q. Devon Dampier stepped up well in his Power Four first year. What have you seen from him this year that gives you confidence that he can take a next step forward?

MORGAN SCALLEY: Well, Devon played a lot last year not at 100 percent. Sports hernia. But that just goes to show how competitive he is and how tough he is. I'm excited to see him play at full strength again.

Also has got tremendous development from Ryan Gunderson, our quarterback coach, as well as Kevin McGiven. When your best players are your best leaders and your hardest workers, you've got something going for you, and he is one of the best. This guy works his tail off. He understands he's got deficiencies that he's trying to improve, and he works tirelessly to improve them.

Cannot wait for the season that he's about to have.

Q. How excited are you about welcoming all the Arkansas Razorbacks to Rice-Eccles Stadium second game of the year, and what kind of a challenge is it going to be to face a coach like Ryan Silverfield, who's only going to be in his second game with Arkansas? So what kind of a challenge do you have preparing for a coach who's with completely different personnel and a completely new system and only the second game of the year?

MORGAN SCALLEY: Well, much like Florida, anytime you can get an SEC program to come to Rice-Eccles Stadium, to come to the University of Utah, you're pretty fired up about it. It's obviously a storied program, and we can't wait to welcome them to Salt Lake City. Our stadium, our atmosphere is absolutely incredible, and we know that they're going to have a ton of athletes.

When you're preparing for a new offense, you're preparing for new personnel, that's no different than any other year. You're going to do the best you can with the film you have, and ultimately we're just excited to snap the football.

Q. Morgan, I was told today that you actually, when you got out of school, started your career in radio, spent a year, and then went into coaching. Just perspective, did you make the right career decision?

MORGAN SCALLEY: Well, I've got a feeling (audio interruption) I can tell. Loved my time at 1280 The Zone, Alema Harrington. It was the "Red & Blue Show." I missed being in football. I missed teaching and the camaraderie, the connection that you have to players.

But yeah, that was a fun time, and I sure made a fool out of myself on the radio, so I decided to get into football.