Utah, Kyle Whittingham Announce Coaching Staff Additions

SALT LAKE CITY – Utah football’s makeover continues as head coach Kyle Whittingham announced two additions to the coaching staff.

After hiring Jason Beck as offensive coordinator last week, the Utes have officially hired Mark Atuaia and Micah Simon.

𝐔𝐓𝐀𝐇‼️ Join us in welcoming the newest additions to our 𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐘‼️

RB Coach | @CoachAtuaia
WR Coach | @micahsimon_

📰: https://t.co/NVKUDOiegK#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/aSnS2oS4Ee

— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) December 13, 2024

Simon joins the Utes after coaching the past year under new Utah offensive coordinator Jason Beck at New Mexico with Atuaia spending the past three seasons at Washington State as its associate head coach.

The program will also be parting ways with Quinton Ganther and Alvis Whitted.

Mark Atuaia, Utah’s New Running Backs Coach

Atuaia has spent the past three seasons at Washington State. He served as associate head coach and running backs coach in Pullman. This past season, he helped true freshman Wayshawn Parker to 735 yards and four touchdowns. In 2022, he guided Nakia Watson to 769 yards and nine touchdowns. Both running backs earned all-conference honors.

I loved my time on the Palouse. The region has been great to the Atuaia aiga and it’ll always have a special place in our collective hearts. It is, however, the people who matter most and the ones who are affixed to our souls forever. To those small few I was unable to catch… pic.twitter.com/hdZjtCmwnm

— Mark Atuaia (@CoachAtuaia) December 12, 2024

 

Before his time with the Cougars, Atuaia spent the previous six seasons coaching alongside Beck at Virginia. He oversaw running backs Wayne Taulapapa, Jordan Ellis, and Taquan Mizzel, who enjoyed productive careers there.

Atuaia played four seasons at BYU (1991, 1994-96), playing for the Cougars 14-1 Cotton Bowl winners in 1996. BYU went 39-11-2 during his career. Atuaia returned to Provo as the running backs coach for Bronco Mendenhall’s 2013 team. He worked closely with future NFL running backs Jamaal Williams and Paul Lasike.

Micah Simon, Utah’s New Receivers Coach

Simon follows Beck to Salt Lake City after he spent last season on Beck’s offensive staff at New Mexico. He joined the Lobos last year following his first year as a position coach at Northern Colorado.

Simon helped pass catchers Luke Wysong and Ryan Davis took significant steps in their games. The two leading pass catchers for the Lobos this season- Luke Wysong (69 catches, 840 yards, one touchdown) and Ryan Davis (54 catches, 747 yards, three touchdowns) were No. 5 (Davis) and No. 7 (Wysong) in receiving production the year before.

Before becoming a receivers coach, Simon worked as an offensive analyst with Beck at Syracuse in 2022.

Simon played four seasons at BYU (2015-19), making 90 catches for 1,109 yards and five touchdowns across 40 games.

Steve Bartle is the Utah insider for KSL Sports. He hosts The Utah Blockcast (SUBSCRIBE) and appears on KSL Sports Zone to break down the Utes. You can follow him on X for the latest Utah updates and game analysis.

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