Kyle Whittingham May Be Close to Leaving Utah Per Reports

Not all is well in Utah after a 9-4 season. Defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake and defensive line coach Ilaisa Tuiaki let for lateral jobs at Oregon State. Offensive coordinator Dave Christensen left for a lesser position at Texas A&M. Reports warn not to be surprised if Kyle Whittingham follows them out the door in the near future.

Bruce Feldman termed the relationship between Whittingham and Utah AD Chris Hill “awful.”

Hearing situation between Whittingham & #Utah AD is awful. Staffers wouldn't be surprised if KW gets forced out & are hoping prez steps in.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) December 28, 2014

A Salt Lake Tribune column described recent events as a “volcanic blast.”

"After months of magma buildup, a volcanic blast is sheering the top off of Utah football, spewing rocks a mile high, triggering mudslides, leveling forests, choking off life as we know it there. Sending Kyle Whittingham packing as the Utes’ head coach. That’s right: He’s walking away. I can’t report it as a fact — not yet — but it’s what is happening, based on what I’ve been told. And I believe what I’ve been told."

That…does not sound promising. Not clear what would have happened to create this degree of discord. Hill has been at Utah since 1987. Whittingham has been head coach since 2005 and an assistant at the school since 1994.