Utah Football head coach Morgan Scalley has been named to the 2026 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award watch list, according to an announcement from the American Heart Association on Wednesday. Scalley is one of 28 coaches selected for this year's watch list, which includes five coaches from the Big 12 Conference.
The annual award is presented each January to a college football coach for demonstrating grit, integrity, and a winning approach to coaching and life both on and off the field. Scalley is currently in his first full season as head coach and his 19th year overall on the coaching staff. He was named head coach prior to the 2025 Las Vegas Bowl, a victory for the Utes over Nebraska.
Under Scalley's leadership, the team has achieved a 6-0 start in 2026. He is the first Utah head coach to start his first full season with a 6-0 record and the first to win his first seven games. The program currently ranks among the top 11 in the FBS for both scoring offense (8th) and scoring defense (11th). The reimagined offense has averaged 486.5 yards per game, while the defense has allowed just 88.7 rushing yards per game, which is 12th-best in the FBS.
Scalley, a Salt Lake City native and former Ute All-America safety, has served the Utah program in various roles since 2006. His previous positions include defensive coordinator for 10 seasons from 2016 to 2025, recruiting coordinator from 2009 to 2015, and special teams coordinator in 2015. During his 18 seasons as an assistant coach, he developed 33 players into NFL talent and saw his players earn 14 All-American awards, including four consensus or unanimous selections.
As a student-athlete, Scalley lettered with the Utes from 2001 to 2004. During his senior year in 2004, he captained the team to a 12-0 record and a Fiesta Bowl victory over Pittsburgh. He was a two-time first-team Academic All-American and was awarded the 2004 Anson Mount Scholar Athlete of the Year.
No. 10-ranked Utah is scheduled to play No. 14 Houston at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 24. The game is scheduled for an 8:15 p.m. MT kickoff on ESPN.
