The Norm Chow Era at the University of Utah is over. After just one full season on the job Chow is leaving for his first and likely last Head Coaching position. The Hawaiian native his heading back home to run the Warrior Football program and after 41 years of coaching High School, College and Pro Football he gets his chance to make a program his own.

I’ve been lucky this season to have a weekly audience with Chow in his office on Wednesday mornings. He has given me great insights to his philosophies and college football. Most of all he has been generous with his time and opinions. I asked him on several occasions about why he hadn’t gotten a Head Coaching job with all his success. Despite the many rumors I’ve heard over the years about what was or wasn’t promised in Provo, Chow always took the high road and said nothing but positive things about his previous employers or possibilities. I couldn’t be happier for Norm and his opportunity at Hawaii. Good things come to those who wait and those who work hard. Chow has done both and now has his own program.

So what happens now at with the Utah Offensive Coordinators job? I think I’ve been asked this question about a thousand times this week. My simple answer for now has been I don’t have a clue. Here’s what I am pretty sure about: Kyle Whittingham will take his time and do his due diligence on this hire. A year ago after the loss to Boise State in the Vegas Bowl, Whittingham made it very clear to me and others that he wanted to change his teams’ offensive look. He talked repeatedly about wanting a “downhill running game” to compliment his team’s defensive toughness. He got the offensive style he wanted this year with Norm Chow calling the shots and John White rushing for more than 1400 yards. Unfortunately the passing game wasn’t there to compliment the rushing attack.

My guess is that Whittingham will want to stay with the Pro-Style or West Coast Offense moving forward. But the question is who does he tab to run that offense? If he stays in house there are a couple of options currently on staff. If he goes outside the program, look for the choice to be someone that Kyle knows well and is comfortable with. Just for fun let’s throw out some possibilities.

• Aaron Roderick – Currently coaching Wide Receivers at Utah. Roderick was the Co-Offensive Coordinator and play caller for a season before Chow’s arrival. Advantage: Knows the personnel and is familiar with what Whittingham wants, worked closely with Norm Chow this season. Disadvantage: Was replaced a year ago in the same position.
• Dave Schramm – Currently coaching Running Backs at Utah. Schramm was the Co-Offensive Coordinator with Roderick for a season before Chow’s arrival. Advantage: Helped to coordinate and develop running game which was the cornerstone of Utah’s offense this season. Disadvantage: Was replaced a year ago in the same position.
• Dirk Koetter – Currently the Offensive Coordinator with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Helped build the Boise State Football program from 1998-2000. Has been an Offensive Coordinator at UTEP, Missouri, Boston College and Oregon. Advantage: Knows the region growing up in Pocatello, ID. Has run successful offenses just about everywhere he’s been in college. Disadvantage: Currently in the NFL and might not want to return to College as an Offensive Coordinator.
• Seth Littrell – Currently un-employed and former Offensive Coordinator at Arizona. Was on Mike Stoops staff at Arizona for 3 seasons, before that he was on Mike Leach’s staff at Texas Tech. Advantage: Helped to coordinate one of the top offensive attacks in the Pac 12 last season at Arizona. Tight with Mike Leach, who is good friends with Kyle Whittingham. Disadvantage: Littrell is a spread offensive guy, if Utah plans to stay with the Pro-Style offense he may not fit.

These are just some names and food for thought. I have no hard fast information from Kyle Whittingham and certainly haven’t been given a look at the list that’s probably sitting in his desk drawer. Remember a year ago, he played the Norm Chow hire extremely close to the vest, to the point that members of his own staff had no idea the hire was coming. What I do know is that this might be the biggest hire that Whittingham has made in his 7 seasons on the job. We saw how important a diverse and potent offense is to success in the Pac 12 this past season and with the hires of Rich Rodriguez and Mike Leach in the Pac 12 South, the stakes have been raised even that much hire.