Longtime Utah coach Kyle Whittingham announced Sunday that he will return as coach in 2025, his 21st season with the Utes.

Whittingham, 65, said just two words in a statement released on social media by the Utah football account.

“I’m back,” Whittingham said.

Late last month, Whittingham was uncertain if he would return and said he would make a decision shortly after the season ended.

“My decision will be made on what’s best for the program, not what’s best for me,” Whittingham said during a press conference on Nov. 25. “So, it’ll be completely determined on how I feel this program is best served going forward.”

It was a rough year for Whittingham and the Utes, who were picked to win the Big 12 in their first year in the conference.

Instead, Utah lost star quarterback Cameron Rising to multiple injuries — including a season-ending leg ailment — and tied for 13th in the conference with a 2-7 league mark and went 5-7 overall.

The Utes finished the season with a 28-14 road win over UCF on Nov. 29. That snapped a seven-game losing streak that followed a 4-0 start.

The losing season was just the third during Whittingham’s tenure with the Utes. He is 167-86 as Utah’s coach.

Whittingham has recorded seven seasons of 10 or more wins with the Utes since replacing Urban Meyer late in the 2004 season.

The school has been preparing for the future by announcing prior to this season that defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley would become head coach whenever Whittingham chooses to retire.

–Field Level Media