Utah football hires former graduate assistant Chad Bumphis as wide receivers coach

A familiar name is coming back to the University of Utah football program to round out its coaching staff.

Chad Bumphis, an offensive graduate assistant for the Utes in 2018 when he worked primarily with the wide receivers, has been hired as Utah’s new wide receivers coach, the school announced Monday morning.

Bumphis, a former standout wide receiver at Mississippi State, replaces Guy Holliday, who exited the program early last week.

“Chad Bumphis is an excellent addition to our coaching staff,” Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said in a statement. “We’re very familiar with Chad from his year with us in 2018, and we’re elated to be able to bring him back to Utah. A very successful wide receiver in his own right, he has an impressive ability to teach and to motivate his players and we look forward to having him join our staff.”

Whittingham’s hire of Bumphis rounds out the coaching staff for Utah, which will begin spring practice later this month.

After his career at Mississippi State ended, Bumphis signed as an undrafted free agent with the Miami Dolphins in 2013. He also spent time with the practice squads of the Denver Broncos and Jacksonville Jaguars, in addition to the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League.

Bumphis’ previous coaching stops include Division III Iowa Wesleyan (wide receiver coach, 2016), Buffalo (graduate assistant, 2017) and Austin Peay (wide receivers coach, 2019). In February, Bumphis was hired by Central Michigan as its wide receivers coach before an opportunity to return to Utah emerged.

Bumphis’ hire should round out Utah’s coaching staff. The Utes are expected to begin spring practice later this month, but details have not yet been released.