Kyle Whittingham, Utah Agree to New Contract: Latest Details and Reaction

Utah Utes head football coach Kyle Whittingham has signed a two-year extension at $3.3 million per season to remain with the team through 2020, per Barrett Sallee of Bleacher Report.

Whittingham has led Utah since 2005, compiling a 94-46 record with a 9-1 record in bowl games, which include the 2005 Fiesta Bowl as co-head coach with his predecessor Urban Meyer. Under Whittingham's leadership, the Utes claimed the 2009 Sugar Bowl after upsetting the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide, 31-17.

Kyle Goon of the the Salt Lake Tribune put the terms of Whittingham's contract into a financial perspective:

Utah released a statement (via Mark Green of Fox 13 Now) with comments from Whittingham:

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“I am grateful for the support and commitment shown by [Utah Director of Athletics] Chris Hill and President Pershing with this contract extension,” he stated. “It gives further stability to our football program and what we are trying to accomplish. We are excited about the future here at Utah and the recruiting class we will sign next Wednesday.”

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The head coach has been successful at Utah, but he it's not like he took over a downtrodden team. In the previous two years Meyer wen 22-2. However, Whittingham deserves credit for keeping the program afloat. His nine bowl appearances in 11 years are unprecedented for a school that had played in only 11 bowls prior to his arrival, despite forming a team in 1892.

After a 6-0 start in 2015, Utah was ranked No. 3 in the AP Top 25 poll and had 16 first-place votes. However, three losses in five games dropped it out of the elite-team discussion, but the season ended well with a 10-2 record and 35-28 victory over rival BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Questions about next season lie ahead for Whittingham and the Utes. They return six of their eight defensive linemen from last year, which had what was considered one of the best defensive lines in the nation, per Matthew Piper of the Salt Lake Tribune. However, they lose 79 percent of their rushing yards, 62 percent of their receiving yards and all of their passing yards for 2015.

If Whittingham can win 10 games again, there is no doubt he will have earned his new contract.