CBS Sports’ John Talty believes Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham could retire from Utah with a replacement in place and without a happy ending after two decades of being a head coach and three decades of coaching total in Salt Lake City.

“Kyle Whittingham is the winningest coach in Utah football history and is in no danger of being fired. But there has been increased speculation about whether Whittingham, in his 20th season as the Utes’ head coach, could be nearing a retirement decision. He has said in the past he doesn’t want to coach past 65-years old and yet will reach that age this month. He already has his successor picked out with defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley deemed the head-coach-in-waiting back in July,” Talty wrote.

“In what was supposed to be a season where Utah immediately competed for the Big 12 title, Utah has disappointed to a 4-4 record that has included weekly questions over quarterback Cam Rising’s status and offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig’s resignation following a home loss to TCU. It’ll be up to Whittingham on whether he wants to walk away on a sour note after a storied coaching career that saw multiple Rose Bowl appearances and a 2008 season where the Utes finished No. 2 in the country.”

Utah has failed to make an impact in the Utes’ first season in the Big 12. With that said, though, Utah has not known life without Whittingham so long that his retiring on a sour note would be unsatisfying. Salt Lake City deserves a more proper sendoff.

But announcing your successor is an undeniable first step toward calling it a career. And NIL has been claiming long-time coaching tenures left and right the past few years.

Kyle Whittingham will still be employed by Utah after retiring as Utes’ head football coach

Per On SI’s Jason Jones, Whittingham will be employed by the University of Utah even after he retires.

“Whittingham’s most recent contract includes a unique provision indicating his post-retirement plans. Upon stepping down from coaching, Whittingham is set to transition into a five-year role as a special assistant to the athletic director, where he’ll earn $995,000 annually,” Jones relayed.

Whittingham will be a part of Utah Utes football beyond his final game coached. It’s not too dissimilar to the pathway Nick Saban went down post-retirement from Alabama.