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Utah announced a bevy of coaching changes Monday morning, including the hire of John Pease out of retirement as defensive coordinator and defensive line coach, and the promotion of quarterbacks coach Aaron Roderick and offensive line coach Jim Harding to co-offensive coordinators.

Coaches were informed of the moves on Saturday, and contracts are not yet finalized.

It's the second time head coach Kyle Whittingham has turned to Pease since Pease ended his NFL coaching career in 2005 — Whittingham previously hired him to coach Utah's defensive line in 2009-10 — and it's the fourth stint at the U. for Pease, a 1964 Liberty Bowl champion player who served as graduate assistant in 1968-69 and linebackers coach in 1977.

Pease, 71, said Monday night that Whittingham asked him about a return to coaching on Saturday night, and he figured, "I'd rather die here on the field than watching 'Law & Order in a big easy chair.'"

In all seriousness, Pease said, he was only willing to return for "somebody that I really knew and admired and liked. I think the world of Kyle." As for the defense, Pease said, "We're going to run what Kyle's been running."

It will also be the second time Roderick will serve as co-offensive coordinator. He did the same in 2010, when Utah was ranked as high as No. 5 in the AP poll while Roderick worked in tandem with current Fresno State offensive coordinator Dave Schramm.

Roderick has been on Utah's staff since 2005. He told The Tribune on Monday night that Whittingham met with all of the offensive coaches after the season, joking — "I don't know what he learned about me in that interview that he didn't already know" — and that they had a productive discussion about what they liked and didn't like about 2014.

Harding, on the other hand, came from Wyoming last year along with offensive coordinator Dave Christensen — who took a job as offensive line coach and run game coordinator at Texas A&M — and made an immediate impression both on the field and on the recruiting trail.

The Roderick/Harding pairing constitutes the eighth offensive coordinator in eight years for Utah. Both will continue to oversee their respective position groups, and Harding told The Tribune on Monday afternoon that he does not expect the offense to be drastically different, which players appreciate.

"I think they're excited that it's going to remain consistent," Harding said. "... I've had nothing but positive remarks for both myself and Coach Roderick."

Coming two days before National Signing Day, the moves further subdue drama and speculation that ensued after three coaches left the program and sources reported discord between Whittingham and athletic director Chris Hill.

Whittingham recently signed a four-year deal worth $11 million that amounts to a one-year extension and takes him through 2018.

Other changes include:

• Utah hired Weber State defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Justin Ena to work as linebackers coach, a duty formally performed by departed defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake. Prior to last season, Ena was defensive coordinator at Southern Utah for four years. He played linebacker for four years at BYU and in the NFL with Philadelphia and Tennessee.

• Safeties coach Morgan Scalley will add special teams to his plate, while continuing to be Utah's recruiting coordinator and safeties coach. Whittingham set a high standard last season coaching Utah's special teams, ranked among the nation's best in almost every category.

• Running backs coach Dennis Erickson becomes assistant head coach. He will continue to coach the running backs.

One assistant coaching position remains vacant, and only Utah's tight ends are now without a position coach.

Reactions to the news were universally positive from players on Twitter.

Among them: Quarterback Kendal Thompson predicted a run at the College Football Playoffs. Wideout Kenneth Scott was pleased that Roderick, his recruiter, was rewarded for his perseverance. Defensive tackle Filipo Mokofisi called Pease a "legend" and quoted Pease as saying "I expect violence, intensity and passion."

Harding said that he's grateful for the opportunity, but that he's not driven by money or titles, but by helping his players become better men off the field.

"Bottom line, it always goes back to doing what's right in the eyes of the kids," he said.

Utah Athletics said Kyle Whittingham will not be available for comment until his signing day news conference on Wednesday afternoon.

Twitter: @matthew_piper —

Utah's coaching staff

Head coach • Kyle Whittingham

Offensive coordinator • Aaron Roderick (pass game) and Jim Harding (run game)

Defensive coordinator • John Pease

Special teams • Morgan Scalley

Quarterbacks • Roderick

Offensive line • Harding

Wide receivers • Taylor Stubblefield

Running backs • Dennis Erickson (also assistant head coach)

Tight ends • Vacant

Defensive line • Pease

Linebackers • Justin Ena

Cornerbacks • Sharrieff Shah

Safeties • Scalley

Recruiting coordinator • Scalley

Director of player personnel • Fred Whittingham Jr.

Director of football operations • Jeff Rudy