Pac-12 Media Day: Utah’s Unconventional Approach to Coaching

LOS ANGELES – Utah is among the newest Pacific 12 Conference members. Perhaps then it’s only fitting Kyle Whittingham enters Year Two with one of the newest coaching staffs in college football.

Whittingham made waves in the off-season when he promoted Brian Johnson to offensive coordinator. At just 25, Johnson is the youngest such coach in the nation.

Johnson joined the Ute staff almost immediately after guiding UU to a 13-0 finish and Sugar Bowl win in the 2008 season. He was renowned for calling plays at the line against the top five rated Alabama defense in the campaign’s finale.

His legacy is still fresh in Salt Lake City, so when Johnson touts a play to the current Utes, they know it comes from experience.

Johnson’s legacy’s so fresh in fact, that Whittingham said some of the players Johnson now coordinates were on the roster when he was quarterbacking the offense.

“Brian can relate to the players and what they’re going through,” Whittingham said at Tuesday’s Pac-12 Media Day. “He knows what they’re thinking and how they’re thinking.”

According to Whittingham, Johnson has parlayed his familiarity with modern college football players’ mindset into wins on the recruiting trail.
Youth does indeed bring a unique perspective to the Ute staff, but Whittingham said there is also a fine line separating a young coach’s connection to his players and the necessary authoritativeness a leader needs.

“He has to keep the separation of being a player and coach. He understands that separation,” Whittingham said.

Whittingham made another unconventional hire when he tabbed Sharieff Shah as cornerbacks coach. Yahoo! Sports’ Post-Game published an interesting feature on Shah, who was a sideline reporter and attorney previously.

Shah is another Ute alumnus, playing cornerback there in the 1990s.