5 candidates to replace Kevin Sumlin at Arizona

3. Morgan Scalley, Utah Defensive Coordinator

Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham doesn’t seem likely to go anywhere, and if were to leave it would probably be for somewhere other than Arizona (USC?). So if Arizona conducts a search for a new head coach, looking to Whittingham’s staff automatically feels more realistic.

Scalley is in his 12th season under Whittingham, and he is in his fourth campaign as defensive coordinator. The Utes led the Pac-12 in rush defense in two of his first three seasons as coordinator, and they finished No. 5 in the country in that category last year. This year things have reached another level, with Utah now sitting No. 1 in the country in rush defense (56 yards per game), No. 3 in total yards allowed (246.3 per game) and seventh in scoring defense (12.2 points per game).

Despite 12 years on staff at Utah Scalley is still a pretty young coach, having just turned 40 in October. During his first year as coordinator in 2016, Whittingham had a hands-on approach to the Utes’ defense, carrying a play-call sheet on the sideline. That is not the anymore now.

"Not so much now,” Whittingham said. “It’s his show. He’s doing a great job, and not just Morgan — his entire staff is doing a great job. … It’s a collaborative effort, but Morgan is the leader of that group."

It’s possible Scalley will be officially tabbed as Whittingham’s successor/the coach in-waiting at some point, with the current coach having once said he can just about guarantee he won’t be coaching at age 65. When Whittingham’s contract runs out, at the end of the 2023 season, he will be 64 years old.

But the idea Scalley will wait to succeed Whittingham can’t be assumed, and it’s fair to say he’ll start getting some head coaching looks elsewhere if he’s willing to entertain them. Arizona would not be conducting a thorough search to replace Sumlin if they don’t look toward Scalley and his building resume as a defensive mind.