This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Utah's offensive coaching staff continues to be unsettled as Brian Johnson, who was demoted from co-offensive coordinator to quarterbacks coach with the hiring of Dave Christensen as Utah's offensive coordinator, is leaving the Utes to join Dan Mullen's staff at Mississippi State.Johnson, Utah's winningest quarterback in history with a 26-7 record, became the youngest offensive coordinator in the Football Bowl Subdivision when coach Kyle Whittingham appointed the then 24-year-old to the position in 2011. However, Johnson's time as a coach hasn't gone smoothly as Utah's offense has failed to be the dynamic force Whittingham envisioned. Johnson served as the co-offensive coordinator last season along with Dennis Erickson. Mullen, who is 36-28 since he was hired at Mississippi State in December of 2008, had an opening since offensive coordinator Les Koenning left to join Charlie Strong's staff at Texas. It's expected Johnson will coach the quarterbacks for Mullen, who acknowledged this week he called the plays during the 2013 season. - Lya Wodraska