Colton Swan named Utah defensive coordinator

Morgan Scalley didn’t have to go far to find his new defensive coordinator. Linebackers coach Colton Swan has been promoted to become the Utes new defensive coordinator, a role Scalley fulfilled the …

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4 Sports) – Morgan Scalley didn’t have to go far to find his new defensive coordinator.

Linebackers coach Colton Swan has been promoted to become the Utes new defensive coordinator, a role Scalley fulfilled the last ten years before becoming head coach last week. Swan will continue to coach the linebackers.

Swan has been on the Utah staff since 2019, spending the last seven seasons tutoring a linebackers group that has earned seven First Team All-Conference nods.

“Colton is the personification of the RSNB culture we’ve established here at Utah and he will thrive in his new role as defensive coordinator,” Scalley said in a statement. “He is as good of a teacher as you will find in the game and his love for his players is unmatched. I’m confident in the continued success of this defense under Coach Swan’s leadership.”

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Swan has coached five linebackers that have that reached the NFL ranks, including Devin Lloyd—who became the highest-drafted linebacker in Utah history after being selected 27th overall by Jacksonville in the 2022 NFL Draft. Francis Bernard, Mohamoud Diabate, Karene Reid and Nephi Sewell also made NFL rosters after playing for Swan at Utah.

“I’m incredibly excited and grateful for the opportunity to lead the Utah defense this upcoming season,” Swan said. “As I enter my eighth year alongside Coach Scalley, Utah has truly become home for my family and I’m eager to continue building on the strong culture that has been established here. Our defense will reflect what this program always stood for – smart, tough and relentless football – values instilled over the years by Coach Scalley and Coach Whittingham. We embrace championship expectations in 2026, and I’m looking forward to getting to work with our players.”

Prior to the Utes, Swan coached 15 seasons under five head coaches at Weber State. He worked with the linebackers for seven years—the last two seasons as inside linebackers coach (2017-18). He served as the Wildcats’ co-defensive coordinator for three seasons from 2009-11 and was the special teams coordinator for the final five years (co-coordinator in 2014). Swan also coached the safeties (2006-08) and tight ends (2014-16).

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Swan coached eight All-Americans at Weber State while his players racked up 15 first-team All-Big Sky honors during his time at the school.

Scalley’s next task is to find a new offensive coordinator to replace Jason Beck, who left to join Kyle Whittingham at Michigan.

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Source: Utah News