Utah coach Morgan Scalley gifts $2 million to Utes football program

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah football coach Morgan Scalley is putting his money where his mouth is.

The newly-named head coach and longtime supporter of Utah athletics has stepped up the game by gifting the football program $2 million, the university announced Thursday.

“The University of Utah and particularly Utah athletics have been an extremely important and influential part of my life for as long as I can remember,” Scalley said in a statement. “My love for this place includes a vision of where we can go and what we can achieve, and it will require an increased effort from everyone who shares in that vision.

“Liz and I simply wanted to do something for this amazing place that shows our faith in and commitment to the future of this incredible university, and how excited we are for what’s to come.”

Scalley, who played safety at Utah and was an assistant coach for 18 years, was named head coach in December after longtime coach Kyle Whittingham stepped down and later took the Michigan head coaching position.

“I’m one of you,” Scalley declared at his introductory press conference in January. “All of you that are sitting in here that went through the same thing: I’m a fan. I’m a Ute. Have been forever, will be.

“When that time comes and I’m done, someone else will step up; I understand that. It’s not about me, it’s not about one person; it never will be. It is about these guys, it is about the players, and players win championships — teams win championships, not individuals. So while my name is going to be out there, and this is history, and I get it and I love it, it’s all about the guys.”

For Scalley, it was an opportunity to show his commitment to the university by donating to it in a significant way as he prepares to enter his first season as the program’s head coach.

“This extraordinary commitment by Morgan and Liz Scalley speaks to everything that makes them special and demonstrates their absolute love for the University of Utah,” athletics director Mark Harlan said in a statement. “Coach Scalley’s vision for the future of the Utah football program is not just a dream, but something that he actively works to bring to reality every day.”

Utah football will open up its spring camp on March 19.