Morgan Scalley - Defensive Coordinator/Safeties - Staff Directory

Staff Directory

Morgan Scalley

Title:
Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
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Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
18^th Year

Entering his 18^th year overall as a Utah assistant coach, Morgan Scalley will begin his 10^th season as Utah’s defensive coordinator in 2025. He also continues to coach the safeties, as he has since joining the coaching staff in 2008.

Athletics Director Mark Harlan announced on July 1, 2024 that Scalley has formally been designated as Utah’s head coach in waiting.

He previously served as Utah’s recruiting coordinator from 2009-15 and special teams’ coordinator in 2015. The former Ute All-America safety began his coaching career as an administrative assistant with the Utes in 2006, moving into a graduate assistant role in 2007.

Scalley, who owns a reputation as one of the brightest defensive minds in the business, was a finalist for the Broyles Award in 2019 when the Utes ranked second in the FBS in total defense. He has instilled the culture and identity of the Utah Defense known as RSNB – standing for Relentless, Smart, Nasty, Ballhawks.

Utah’s total defense has finished in the top-half of its conference eight times in the past nine seasons, ranking second nationally and first in the league in 2019.
Scalley directed the Pac-12’s top rushing defense five times as coordinator (2016 and 2018-21) —including top-five national rankings in 2018, ’19 and ’23.
The Utes have finished atop the conference in sacks and tackles for loss three times under Scalley, most recently back-to-back in 2021 and ’22. The team also finished the 2018 season ranked 11^th nationally and first in the Pac-12 in sacks.
Since 2019, Scalley's defense has held opponents to 15 points or fewer in 29 games; it ranks ninth-most by a Power Conference program.

His ability to develop talent has propelled 33 Utes to the NFL ranks. In 2022, Scalley saw Devin Lloyd become the highest-drafted linebacker in school history, going in the first round (27^th overall) to Jacksonville.

After leaving Utah as a second-round draft pick, Eric Rowe played in three Super Bowls with the New England Patriots (2016-18). Scalley has four other second-round draft picks to date: safety Marcus Williams (New Orleans) in 2017, safety Marquise Blair (Seattle) in 2019, cornerback Jaylon Johnson (Chicago) in 2020 and safety Cole Bishop (Buffalo) in 2024.

Third-rounders include linebacker Cody Barton (Seattle) in 2019, safeties Julian Blackmon (Indianapolis) and Terrell Burgess (L.A. Rams) in 2020, along with defensive end Jonah Elliss in 2024.
Sione Vaki was a fourth-round choice by Detroit in 2024 after starring at Utah as a safety while also contributing on offense later in his career.
Defensive tackle Leki Fotu was a fourth-round choice (Arizona) in 2020 and defensive end Bradlee Anae (Dallas) a fifth-rounder. Safety Robert Johnson played three seasons in the league after being selected in the fifth round in 2010.
Scalley sent a trio of sixth-round draft picks to the NFL in defensive linemen Pita Taumoepenu in 2017, Kylie Fitts in 2018 and John Penisini in 2020.
Jaylon Johnson was selected to the NFC roster for the Pro Bowl Games in 2023.

Scalley has coached 13 All-Americans (four consensus or unanimous), 20 All-Conference First Team selections and five Freshman All-Americans.

His defensive All-Americans are headlined by Jonah Elliss (consensus in 2023), Clark Phillips III (unanimous in 2022), Devin Lloyd (consensus in 2021) and Bradlee Anae (consensus in 2019).
Additional Utes to collect All-America on his watch include Cole Bishop (2023), Sione Vaki (2023), Mika Tafua (2021), Jaylon Johnson (2019), Leki Fotu (2019), Julian Blackmon (2019), Chase Hansen (2018) and Hunter Dimick (2016) with Tom Hackett also being named a unanimous All-American in 2015 when Scalley served as special teams coordinator.
Bradlee Anae (2019) and Mika Tafua (2021) were named Pac-12 Morris Trophy recipients, awarded to the league’s top offensive and defensive linemen and voted on by the opposite side of the ball. Lloyd also became Utah’s first Pac-12 Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year, taking the accolade in 2021.
Linebacker Lander Barton was named the Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year in 2022, highlighting a pair of Freshmen All-Americans for the Utes in Barton and defensive tackle Simote Pepa.
In 2019 Utah placed five defensive players on the All-Pac-12 first team (Anae, Blackmon, Fotu, Johnson and Francis Bernard) and one on second team, with four more garnering honorable mention. That marked the second year in a row with 10 players honored, with 2018's haul including first-team picks Hansen, Anae, Fotu and Jaylon Johnson.
Scalley’s other First Team All-Conference players include Van Fillinger, Hackett, Dimick and Marcus Williams. In addition, Robert Johnson was first-team All-Mountain West and Eric Rowe and Brian Blechen were both Freshman All-Americans.

Utah’s defense began a new era in 2024 with the program’s entrance into the Big 12 Conference. Once again producing stingy numbers, the Utes brought their long-running reputation of physicality into their new league.

In their inaugural Big 12 season, the Utes ranked third in the Big 12 and No. 19 nationally in pass efficiency defense (112.20). Utah held teams to 20.7 points per game, third-best in the conference and No. 28 in the country. The team also placed in the top-three in the league in total defense as well as points allowed per game, while finishing fourth in rushing defense.
Scalley’s defense again was one of the toughest nationally to beat on third down, allowing opponents to convert on just 27.4% of opportunities. It led the Power Conferences and was a factor in teams earning just 198 first downs against the Utes—the fewest allowed by a Big 12 squad.
Utah averaged 6.5 tackles for loss per game, the third-best in the league. Defensive end Van Fillinger had 6.0 sacks—fifth-most in the Big 12 during the regular season—on his way to one of the defensive line’s three All-Conference awards.

The “next man up” mentality was top-of-mind for the 2023 Utes as the squad battled the injury bug across all three phases. Nevertheless, Utah reached bowl-eligibility for the 10^th straight season and put up some of the Pac-12’s top defensive numbers along the way.

Scalley’s group ranked second in the Pac-12 and ninth among Power Conference programs with 307.2 yards allowed per game. It marked the seventh straight season that the Utes ranked in the top-three of the Pac-12 in total defense (and fifth time in six years ranking top-two).

In the run game, Utah allowed 82.8 yards per game—good for second in the conference and No. 4 nationally. A testament to the continued strength of the front seven, Utah posted a top-three rushing defense in the Pac-12 each year with Scalley as defensive coordinator. It included leading the conference in four straight seasons from 2018-21.

Opponents struggled mightily on third down against the Utes, converting just 29.5% of the time. It was the best percentage in the league and No. 8 in FBS. In turn, Utah allowed a Pac-12-low 199 first downs, fifth-fewest in FBS. It helped put the ball in the hands of the Utah offense for a nation-leading 34:04 time of possession per game.
The Utes allowed 19.3 points per game—ranking 19^th in the FBS—including seven games where the defense allowed 15 or fewer points.
Consensus All-American defensive end Jonah Elliss, plus safeties Cole Bishop and Sione Vaki declared for the NFL Draft following the 2023 season, with Bishop and Vaki also earning invitations to the Reese’s Senior Bowl. One of the most versatile players in recent program history, Vaki not only shined at safety but also saw time on offense in seven games during 2023.

Scalley’s defense was a force during 2022, even after losing multiple upperclassmen to the NFL following the ’21 campaign. It culminated with Utah’s second straight league championship and Rose Bowl appearance.

Utah allowed an average of 334.1 total yards per game—ranking No. 18 in the Power Five and just short of the Pac-12 lead. The Utes had six performances holding opponents under 270 total yards, contributing to the Pac-12’s second-best scoring defense (21.4 points per game). In nine games the Utes held their foes to 21 points or less. It led the Pac-12 and was tied for seventh-most among Power Five programs during the 2022 campaign.
The Utes were once again tough to solve on the ground; on paper the team had the Pac-12’s best rushing defense for much of the season, ultimately finishing No. 2 in the Pac-12 and 18th nationally (111.4 yards per game).

Despite battling injuries in the secondary and on the defensive line throughout the 2021 season, the Utes lived up to the challenge on the way to the program’s first-ever Pac-12 crown and ticket to the Rose Bowl.

Utah allowed only 341.6 yards of offense per game, ranking third in the Pac-12, holding six different opponents to under 315 yards.
The Utes held teams in their nine-game conference slate to just 332 yards on average – the fewest in the league.
In 2021, the Utes ranked in the top-25 nationally and first in the league in rushing defense (119.4), sacks (3.00) and tackles for loss (6.9).
Utah was 7-0 in games when only allowing only 100 rushing yards or less.

After returning just two defensive starters in 2020, Scalley’s young defensive unit led the Pac-12 in rushing defense and pass defense efficiency, also ranking second in the league in total defense and third-down defense. The 2020 defense also plucked seven interceptions in just five games; it was the second-most per game (1.4) in the Pac-12 and eighth-best in the FBS.

The 2019 Utah defense was one for the ages, leading the Pac-12 in total defense, passing defense, rushing defense, scoring defense, red zone defense, first downs allowed and third-down defense.

Utah 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).
Scalley's unit recorded two shutouts, the most by a Utah team since 2003, and held six opponents to seven points or fewer, the most in a season by the Utes since 1969 (also 6).
Utah held 10 of 14 opponents under 70 rushing yards, the most by an FBS team since 2006.

In 2018 the Utes finished second in the Pac-12 in total defense and scoring defense and finished in the top 20 in the nation in both. Utah’s 2018 team ranked in the top three in the Pac-12 in every major defensive category (rushing defense, passing defense, pass efficiency defense, total defense and scoring defense).

Scalley fared well in his first coordinator assignment as well, with the 2015 Utes ranking first in the nation in net punting when he supervised the special teams.

Scalley also owns a long-standing track record as a widely respected recruiter. Utah’s 2023 recruiting class was ranked No. 21 nationally by 247Sports, while Rivals.com rated Utah’s 2012 recruiting class as the country’s 25th best. In 2011, Rivals described Scalley as one of the top recruiters in the Pac-12 and a “recruiting coordinator on the rise.”

He was Rivals’ non-BCS recruiter of the year in 2010 and one of the top 25 recruiters in the nation overall. Rivals ranked Utah’s 2010 recruiting class as the best by a school from a non-automatic qualifying conference and 32nd overall.

Playing Career
Scalley lettered for the Utes from 2001-04 and was the 2004 Mountain West co-Defensive Player of the Year, a second-team All-American by the Associated Press and SI.com and a unanimous first-team all-conference safety. He was a second-team All-MWC defensive back in 2003 and an honorable mention All-MWC punt returner in 2001 and 2002.

As a senior, he captained Utah to 12-0 record, a Fiesta Bowl win over Pittsburgh and a No. 4 national ranking in a historic season in which Utah became the first non-BCS team to play in a BCS bowl game.

Scalley was a two-time first-team Academic All-American (2003-04), the 2004 Anson Mount Scholar Athlete of the Year and the 2004 MWC Scholar Athlete of the Year. He was awarded two post-graduate scholarships, including one from the NCAA.

Scalley was presented with the inaugural Pat Tillman award during the 2005 East-West Shrine Game, recognizing him for his character, intelligence, sportsmanship and service.

After graduating Magna Cum Laude from the U with a 3.96 GPA, Scalley earned a master’s degree in business.

Coaching Experience

2008-	Utah
2016-	Defensive Coordinator
	Safeties
2015	Special Teams Coordinator
	Safeties
	Recruiting Coordinator
2009-14	Safeties
	Recruiting Coordinator
2008	Safeties
2006-07	Utah
2007	Graduate Assistant
	Defense
2006	Administrative Assistant

Bowl Games

2023	Las Vegas Bowl
2022	Rose Bowl
2021	Rose Bowl
2019	Alamo Bowl
2018	Holiday Bowl
2017	Heart of Dallas Bowl
2016	Foster Farms Bowl
2015	Las Vegas Bowl
2014	Las Vegas Bowl
2011	Sun Bowl
2010	Las Vegas Bowl
2009	Poinsettia Bowl
2009 (2008)	Sugar Bowl
2007	Poinsettia Bowl
2006	Armed Forces Bowl

Education
Utah, 2004
Bachelor’s in mass communication
2003, 2004 Academic All-American
Graduated Magna Cum Laude

Utah, 2006
Master’s in business administration

Personal Data
Hometown: Salt Lake City
Birthdate: Oct. 8, 1979
Family: Married to the former Liz Herrscher. Daughters Madeline and Emma and son Andrew.