Coaches No. 18 2009 record 10–3 (6–2 MWC) | AP No. 18 | |
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Conference Mountain West Conference Head coach Kyle Whittingham (5th year) Offensive coordinator Dave Schramm (1st year) | ||
The 2009 Utah Utes football team represented the University of Utah in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team, coached by 5th year head football coach Kyle Whittingham, played its home games in Rice–Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah.
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The Utes finished the season 10–3, 6–2 in Mountain West play and won the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl 37–27 over California.
Preseason
The Utes were picked to finish third in the Mountain West Conference by media members covering the league. TCU was picked to finish first and BYU was picked second. Utah garnered three first–place votes out twenty-four total ballots. In the preseason AP Poll, Utah was ranked #19, and in the preseason Coaches' Poll they were ranked #18.
Coaching changes
Shortly after the 2009 Sugar Bowl, Utah lost both coordinators to other programs. Defensive coordinator Gary Andersen accepted a job as head coach of Utah State. Kalani Sitake, who had been the coach of the linebackers, replaced Andersen as defensive coordinator; Sitake continued his duties as linebacker coach. Offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig accepted the same position with Kansas State (and then less than two months later accepted the same position with California. Dave Schramm, the former running back coach, was promoted to offensive coordinator. Aaron Alford, who had been coaching cornerbacks, replaced Schramm as running back coach. J.D. Williams was hired to replac Alford as coach of the cornerbacks. Utah also lost offensive line coach Charlie Dickey to Kansas State. He was replaced by Blake Miller. John Pease was hired to coach the defensive line, a position which previously did not have a position coach. Finally, safeties coach Morgan Scalley took over Schramm's duties as recruiting coordinator.
Awards
Six Utah players were named to the 2009 MWC Football All-Conference Team first team: wide receiver David Reed, running back Eddie Wide, offensive lineman Zane Beadles, defensive lineman Koa Misi, linebacker Stevenson Sylvester, and defensive back Robert Johnson.
Two players were named to the second team: Caleb Schlauderaff and Zane Taylor, both on the offensive line. Four players were given Honorable Mention: placekicker Joe Phillips, punter Sean Sellwood, defensive lineman Sealver Siliga, and linebacker Mike Wright.
Beadles was named to several All-American teams recognized by the NCAA to determine "consensus All-Americans". The Football Writers Association of America named him to its first team All-American team. The Walter Camp Football Foundation named him to its second team. Sporting News named him to its third team.
NFL Draft
Utah had six players taken in the 2010 NFL Draft — setting a school record. The players taken were: