As Morgan Scalley takes the reins of Utah Football, University of Utah Magazine sat down with him to learn about his leadership style, deep U roots and the culture he believes will carry the U into a new era. Read an excerpt from “Built for This Moment” below.
Morgan Scalley is not afraid to cry.
He feels deeply. It’s part of who he is and how he coaches. He’s a fierce competitor. Strict, but sometimes silly. Loves his family. Is wildly dedicated. And he believes the Utah football program can win a national championship.
The three C’s he lives by—character, competence and connection—are echoed by his staff and could help him get that coveted title. But for the three C’s to work, he can’t hold back the tears when he talks about God, or gratitude, or even regret.
Fifteen seconds after he took the microphone at the January press conference where he was officially named the 24th head coach of University of Utah football, Scalley’s voice cracked with emotion. Then just as quickly, it switched to a growl.
“I’m a baby,” Scalley said. “But man, our team’s going to rip your face off.”
It was a fitting introduction to Ford Morgan Scalley BA’04 MBA’07, fearless and full of heart. At a time when college sports are increasingly scrutinized and under pressure to adapt, perform, find funding and uphold their academic mission, Scalley is all in, with a vision.
He is taking the helm of a team that has won multiple conference titles, including the Pac-12 Championship twice. In 2024, it suffered a 5-7 losing record. But in 2025, Utah Football finished the year ranked 14th in the nation by the AP poll, winning Scalley’s first game as head coach: the Las Vegas Bowl. Demands to keep the momentum going are high, but Scalley is up for the challenge.
“Morgan shares our values. He shares our history,” President Taylor Randall HBA’90 said at Scalley’s press conference. “Even more importantly, he’s got the brains and know-how to succeed in this new era of college athletics. I am confident that we have the right man for the right job at the right time.”
Find the full article and other stories at magazine.utah.edu.