The University of Utah has reinstated its football team’s defensive coordinator, Morgan Scalley, following an investigation into a racial slur he used in a text to a recruit in 2013.
Scalley, who was suspended from the team for a month, admitted using the slur, and in a statement admitted that he used the word and had “made a terrible mistake.” He added, “It was offensive and hurtful to not only the African-American community, but to all.
“I am also heartbroken over the potential breach of trust with my fellow coaches, and with the young men in our program, both past and present,” he said at the time. “I am truly sorry, and I own up to the hurtful effects of my choice.”
Utah Athletics Director Mark Harlan made the decision official Wednesday.
“We have thoroughly evaluated all of the information available to us to determine the most appropriate conclusion and path forward,” Harlan and Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said in a letter. “The racist language used by coach Scalley is inexcusable and harmful to all, particularly to those communities identified in the report.”
As a result of the investigation, Utah will keep Scalley, but will cut his salary in half (scheduled to be $1.1 million this season) in addition to rescinding his head coach-in-waiting status.
Before this, Scalley was viewed as the heir apparent to Whittingham’s head coaching job when he retires, was named a 2019 Broyles Award finalist after leading the Utes to a No. 2 national ranking in total defense last season.