After Andy Ludwig stepped down as Utah’s offensive coordinator last season, Kyle Whittingham and the Utes went looking for a fresh start.
Enter Jason Beck, who had just led New Mexico to the nation’s fourth-best offense.
But how much will that fresh start cost?
Beck signed a three-year deal with the Utes, which runs through Jan. 31, 2028, according to documents obtained by The Salt Lake Tribune.
He’ll make a base salary starting at $1.25 million in 2025, increasing to $1.35 million in 2026 and $1.45 million in 2027.
Here’s a look at contract changes for some of the Utes’ other top assistants.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) University of Utah football defensive coordinator and safeties coach Morgan Scalley is pictured on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.
Bonus for Scalley
After regaining the “head coach in-waiting” clause in his contract in 2024, defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley is in line to earn a base salary of $2.1 million in 2025 and $2.2 million in 2026, according to his latest contract.
If Whittingham retires at the end of the season, and Scalley is named his successor, the coordinator’s salary would jump to $5.1 million. That number would increase by $100,000 every new year of the contract until 2028.
In a new amendment added to his contract in 2024, Scalley will also earn a retention bonus of $500,000 “so long as [he] remains employed by the University as an assistant coach of the [football team] on July 1, 2025.”
(Rick Scuteri | AP) Washington State running backs coach Mark Atuaia wears a Virginia Cavaliers sweatshirt during warm ups before an NCAA college football game against Arizona, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, in Tucson, Ariz.
RB coach Mark Atuaia’s contract
Alongside Beck, Utah signed new running backs coach Mark Atuaia to a deal through Jan. 31, 2027.
Atuaia spent the last three seasons as the running backs coach and associate head coach at Washington State.
Based on the terms of his contract, he’s set to make an annual salary of $350,000. The university also paid Washington State a $16,000 buyout for Atuaia to coach in Salt Lake City.
Atuaia was an integral part of the development of the Cougars’ run game. In 2024, he coached a true freshman, Wayshawn Parker, to 735 rushing yards, 137 carries and four touchdowns. Parker then followed his coach to Utah.
WR coach Micah Simon’s contract
New Utes’ wide receivers coach Micah Simon was signed to a two-year deal in the offseason.
Simon will make an annual salary of $200,000, per the terms of his contract. The Utes paid New Mexico $10,000 for his buyout.
