Utah defensive coordinator Scalley to keep job after review

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley will remain on staff but will take a pay cut and must undergo diversity training after being suspended for using a racial slur in a 2013 text message.

Utah announced Wednesday that Scalley will participate in diversity and inclusion education and have his salary cut from $1.1 million to $525,000.

His contract also was trimmed from a multiyear deal, which he signed last year, to a one-year deal, and he will no longer be the designated head coach in waiting.

“We have thoroughly evaluated all of the information available to us to determine the most appropriate conclusion and path forward,” Utah athletic director Mark Harlan and head coach Kyle Whittingham said in a joint statement.

“The racist language used by Coach Scalley is inexcusable and harmful to all, particularly to those communities identified in the report. We believe, and expect, that he will learn and lead, while owning his past conduct, to rebuild trust, reconcile harm caused and make a positive impact on the lives of student-athletes.”

Scalley was suspended last month when his use of a racial slur in a text message was posted on social media. Scalley issued a public apology for using the slur and Utah hired an outside firm to conduct an investigation.

The review by Husch Blackwell included interviews with 35 current and former Utes student-athletes, coaches and staff members. It found that nearly everyone who was interviewed described being “shocked” when learning Scalley used a racial slur and numerous student-athletes said they did not view Scalley as racist.

It also found several student-athletes reported Scalley making comments about their hair, appearance or clothing that they believed implicated racial stereotypes. Scalley denied treating any of his player differently due to race.

Scalley has been an assistant at Utah for 13 years, the past five as defensive coordinator.

The school will redirect $100,000 previously slated as part of Scalley’s compensation to enhance a university anti-hate student-athlete forum.

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