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The University of Utah Athletics
Colton Swan Promoted to Defensive Coordinator
1/2/2026 4:50 PM | Football
Seven-year linebackers coach to take over Utah defense heading into 2026
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah football head coach Morgan Scalley announced on Friday that linebackers coach Colton Swan has been promoted to defensive coordinator. Swan will continue to coach the linebackers in his new role.
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He will take over coordinator duties for Scalley, who ran the defense from 2016-25. Swan has been on the Utah staff since 2019, spending the last seven seasons tutoring a linebackers group that has earned seven First Team All-Conference nods. His linebackers have developed a reputation as the generals of the Utah defense, helping the team to two conference championship victories and five bowl appearances.
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"Colton is the personification of the RSNB culture we've established here at Utah and he will thrive in his new role as defensive coordinator," Scalley said. "He is as good of a teacher as you will find in the game and his love for his players is unmatched. I'm confident in the continued success of this defense under Coach Swan's leadership."
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Swan has tutored five players that reached the NFL ranks, including Devin Lloyd—who became the highest-drafted linebacker in Utah history after being selected 27th overall by Jacksonville in the 2022 NFL Draft. Other Swan proteges to land free agent signings include Francis Bernard, Mohamoud Diabate, Karene Reid and Nephi Sewell.
"I'm incredibly excited and grateful for the opportunity to lead the Utah defense this upcoming season," Swan said. "As I enter my eighth year alongside Coach Scalley, Utah has truly become home for my family and I'm eager to continue building on the strong culture that has been established here. Our defense will reflect what this program always stood for – smart, tough and relentless football – values instilled over the years by Coach Scalley and Coach Whittingham. We embrace championship expectations in 2026, and I'm looking forward to getting to work with our players."
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Thanks in part to Swan's linebackers, Utah has ranked among the Power Conferences' best defenses since his arrival, placing in the top 10 with 325.7 total yards allowed per game. Opponents have had a tough time running the ball, averaging 116.6 yards per game since 2019—ninth lowest in the Power Conferences.
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His 2025 group helped Utah to its first 11-win season since 2019 and just the fourth in program history. The Utes currently rank top five in the nation in pass efficiency defense (102.29), 17th in passing yards allowed (177.8 ypg) and 18th in scoring defense (18.9 ppg). Lander Barton and Johnathan Hall were named All-Big 12 and Barton accepted an invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl.
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A testament to Swan's talent development ability, he entered 2022 having to replace a set of NFL linebackers with a completely new starting lineup. The trio of Barton, Diabate and Reid emerged as Utah won its second straight Pac-12 Championship and returned to the Rose Bowl Game. The linebacker room contributed 32.5 of Utah's 90 tackles for loss; the team total was a Pac-12 best and ranked ninth in program history for a single season. Swan helped the then-rookie Barton emerge as of the top up-and-coming linebackers in the Pac-12, leading the league's freshmen with 4.5 sacks on the way to Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year and CFN Freshman All-America Second Team.
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Lloyd finished a decorated Utah career in 2021 as the 10th consensus All-American in program history. The Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year and two-time Butkus Award finalist graded out at 90-plus three separate times in 2021 by PFF, which led all linebackers nationally. Fellow linebacker Nephi Sewell, whom Swan converted from safety, signed a free agent contract and finished his career as a two-time All-Pac-12 pick.
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In Swan's inaugural season with the Utes (2019), the team ranked No. 2 in FBS in scoring defense on the way to the Pac-12 South title. Utah's defense held six opponents to seven points or fewer, the most by an FBS team since 2006. The Utes led the Pac-12 in total defense, passing defense, rushing defense, scoring defense, red zone defense, first downs allowed and third-down defense, and recorded the best statistical season by a conference team in the Pac-12 era in three categories: total yards (269.2), rushing yards (81.8) and points allowed (15.0).
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Francis Bernard was named first-team All-Pac-12 while Lloyd earned honorable mention as a sophomore, each in his first year as a full-time starting linebacker. Lloyd led the Utes' record-setting defense in tackles (91), followed closely behind by Bernard (85). Lloyd ranked second on the team in sacks (6.5) and the pair recorded three interceptions between them, with each returning an interception 58 yards or longer for a touchdown. Bernard signed as an NFL undrafted free agent in 2020.Â
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Prior to the Utes, Swan coached 15 seasons under five head coaches at Weber State. He worked with the linebackers for seven years—the last two seasons as inside linebackers coach (2017-18). He served as the Wildcats' co-defensive coordinator for three seasons from 2009-11 and was the special teams coordinator for the final five years (co-coordinator in 2014). Swan also coached the safeties (2006-08) and tight ends (2014-16).
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Swan coached eight All-Americans at Weber State while his players racked up 15 first-team All-Big Sky honors during his time at the school.
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Weber State won back-to-back Big Sky championships for the first time in school history in 2017-18. The Wildcats made the FCS playoffs in each of his final three seasons—advancing to the quarterfinals in 2017 and 2018. The 2017 Wildcats set a school record with 11 wins, including two FCS playoff games, and finished with a No. 5 national ranking.
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The 2018 team ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation—the best ranking in school history—and earned the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in the FCS Playoffs before finishing with a 10-3 record. The Wildcats ranked in the top 10 in interceptions, turnovers gained and red zone defense in 2017, while leading the Big Sky Conference in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense, interceptions, pass efficiency defense, red zone defense and kickoff returns. In 2018, WSU led the Big Sky in scoring defense, rushing defense, total defense, sacks, tackles for loss, kickoff returns and punt return defense among others. Weber was No. 4 in the country in kickoff returns in 2018. Â
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In 2016, Swan helped lead Weber State to a 7-5 record, a third-place finish in the Big Sky Conference and WSU's first trip to the FCS Playoffs in seven years. The Wildcats were 10th in the nation in net punting and 12th in kickoff returns that season. In 2015, the Wildcats finished 6-5 for their first winning season in five years and led the Big Sky in kickoff coverage.
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He began his coaching career as a defensive graduate assistant at Weber State in 2004 and '05.
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The native of Jerome, Idaho, graduated from Weber State in 2004 with a bachelor's in health promotion, adding a master's in education in 2006. He and his wife, Sarah, have two children, Doc and Liv.
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Follow the Utes on social media through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com. Download the Utah 360 app here.  Â
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He will take over coordinator duties for Scalley, who ran the defense from 2016-25. Swan has been on the Utah staff since 2019, spending the last seven seasons tutoring a linebackers group that has earned seven First Team All-Conference nods. His linebackers have developed a reputation as the generals of the Utah defense, helping the team to two conference championship victories and five bowl appearances.
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"Colton is the personification of the RSNB culture we've established here at Utah and he will thrive in his new role as defensive coordinator," Scalley said. "He is as good of a teacher as you will find in the game and his love for his players is unmatched. I'm confident in the continued success of this defense under Coach Swan's leadership."
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Swan has tutored five players that reached the NFL ranks, including Devin Lloyd—who became the highest-drafted linebacker in Utah history after being selected 27th overall by Jacksonville in the 2022 NFL Draft. Other Swan proteges to land free agent signings include Francis Bernard, Mohamoud Diabate, Karene Reid and Nephi Sewell.
"I'm incredibly excited and grateful for the opportunity to lead the Utah defense this upcoming season," Swan said. "As I enter my eighth year alongside Coach Scalley, Utah has truly become home for my family and I'm eager to continue building on the strong culture that has been established here. Our defense will reflect what this program always stood for – smart, tough and relentless football – values instilled over the years by Coach Scalley and Coach Whittingham. We embrace championship expectations in 2026, and I'm looking forward to getting to work with our players."
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Thanks in part to Swan's linebackers, Utah has ranked among the Power Conferences' best defenses since his arrival, placing in the top 10 with 325.7 total yards allowed per game. Opponents have had a tough time running the ball, averaging 116.6 yards per game since 2019—ninth lowest in the Power Conferences.
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His 2025 group helped Utah to its first 11-win season since 2019 and just the fourth in program history. The Utes currently rank top five in the nation in pass efficiency defense (102.29), 17th in passing yards allowed (177.8 ypg) and 18th in scoring defense (18.9 ppg). Lander Barton and Johnathan Hall were named All-Big 12 and Barton accepted an invitation to the East-West Shrine Bowl.
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A testament to Swan's talent development ability, he entered 2022 having to replace a set of NFL linebackers with a completely new starting lineup. The trio of Barton, Diabate and Reid emerged as Utah won its second straight Pac-12 Championship and returned to the Rose Bowl Game. The linebacker room contributed 32.5 of Utah's 90 tackles for loss; the team total was a Pac-12 best and ranked ninth in program history for a single season. Swan helped the then-rookie Barton emerge as of the top up-and-coming linebackers in the Pac-12, leading the league's freshmen with 4.5 sacks on the way to Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year and CFN Freshman All-America Second Team.
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Lloyd finished a decorated Utah career in 2021 as the 10th consensus All-American in program history. The Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year and two-time Butkus Award finalist graded out at 90-plus three separate times in 2021 by PFF, which led all linebackers nationally. Fellow linebacker Nephi Sewell, whom Swan converted from safety, signed a free agent contract and finished his career as a two-time All-Pac-12 pick.
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In Swan's inaugural season with the Utes (2019), the team ranked No. 2 in FBS in scoring defense on the way to the Pac-12 South title. Utah's defense held six opponents to seven points or fewer, the most by an FBS team since 2006. The Utes led the Pac-12 in total defense, passing defense, rushing defense, scoring defense, red zone defense, first downs allowed and third-down defense, and recorded the best statistical season by a conference team in the Pac-12 era in three categories: total yards (269.2), rushing yards (81.8) and points allowed (15.0).
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Francis Bernard was named first-team All-Pac-12 while Lloyd earned honorable mention as a sophomore, each in his first year as a full-time starting linebacker. Lloyd led the Utes' record-setting defense in tackles (91), followed closely behind by Bernard (85). Lloyd ranked second on the team in sacks (6.5) and the pair recorded three interceptions between them, with each returning an interception 58 yards or longer for a touchdown. Bernard signed as an NFL undrafted free agent in 2020.Â
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Prior to the Utes, Swan coached 15 seasons under five head coaches at Weber State. He worked with the linebackers for seven years—the last two seasons as inside linebackers coach (2017-18). He served as the Wildcats' co-defensive coordinator for three seasons from 2009-11 and was the special teams coordinator for the final five years (co-coordinator in 2014). Swan also coached the safeties (2006-08) and tight ends (2014-16).
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Swan coached eight All-Americans at Weber State while his players racked up 15 first-team All-Big Sky honors during his time at the school.
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Weber State won back-to-back Big Sky championships for the first time in school history in 2017-18. The Wildcats made the FCS playoffs in each of his final three seasons—advancing to the quarterfinals in 2017 and 2018. The 2017 Wildcats set a school record with 11 wins, including two FCS playoff games, and finished with a No. 5 national ranking.
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The 2018 team ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation—the best ranking in school history—and earned the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in the FCS Playoffs before finishing with a 10-3 record. The Wildcats ranked in the top 10 in interceptions, turnovers gained and red zone defense in 2017, while leading the Big Sky Conference in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense, interceptions, pass efficiency defense, red zone defense and kickoff returns. In 2018, WSU led the Big Sky in scoring defense, rushing defense, total defense, sacks, tackles for loss, kickoff returns and punt return defense among others. Weber was No. 4 in the country in kickoff returns in 2018. Â
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In 2016, Swan helped lead Weber State to a 7-5 record, a third-place finish in the Big Sky Conference and WSU's first trip to the FCS Playoffs in seven years. The Wildcats were 10th in the nation in net punting and 12th in kickoff returns that season. In 2015, the Wildcats finished 6-5 for their first winning season in five years and led the Big Sky in kickoff coverage.
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He began his coaching career as a defensive graduate assistant at Weber State in 2004 and '05.
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The native of Jerome, Idaho, graduated from Weber State in 2004 with a bachelor's in health promotion, adding a master's in education in 2006. He and his wife, Sarah, have two children, Doc and Liv.
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FOLLOW THE UTES
Follow the Utes on social media through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com. Download the Utah 360 app here.  Â
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