Utah football coach Kyle Whittingham loves the theater — if he can stay awake
The Utah Utes football coach’s favorite Broadway plays were shown on the TV broadcast of Utah’s big win over San Diego State.
(Hunter Dyke | Utah Athletics) Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham speaks to his team during football practice in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Aug. 03, 2022.
As the Utah Utes football team routed San Diego State on Saturday night, the TV broadcast revealed a more personal side of longtime coach Kyle Whittingham.
The broadcast showed a graphic labeled the “Broadway Plays,” and listed the top four picks for Whittingham and ESPN analyst Rod Gilmore. Whittingham’s top four were, in order, “Jersey Boys,” “Motown,” “Rock of Ages” and “Beautiful.”
Whittingham said after the game that Gilmore “wanted me to share that with you” and appeared amused that it showed up on the broadcast. When asked if he considered himself an avid theater-goer, he agreed and expanded on this taste. Although some thespians might take issue with which productions he enjoyed and which ones he, well, didn’t.
“I like to go to the theater” Whittingham said. “I slept solid through ‘[Les Misérables]’ and ‘Phantom of the Opera.’ I mean, I was out. It has to be the right one.”
For over 150 years, The Salt Lake Tribune has been Utah’s independent news source. Our reporters work tirelessly to uncover the stories that matter most to Utahns, from unraveling the complexities of court rulings to allowing tax payers to see where and how their hard earned dollars are being spent. This critical work wouldn’t be possible without people like you—individuals who understand the importance of local, independent journalism. As a nonprofit newsroom, every subscription and every donation fuels our mission, supporting the in-depth reporting that shines a light on the is sues shaping Utah today.
You can help power this work.