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SALT LAKE CITY — A week after Guy Holliday was dismissed as Utah's wide receiver coach after five seasons, the football program has already found his replacement.
Kyle Whittingham announced Monday morning the addition of Chad Bumphis, 31, as its newest coach. Bumphis previously worked with Utah as a graduate assistant in 2018 before being hired by Austin Peay as the team's wide receiver coach.
"Chad Bumphis is an excellent addition to our coaching staff," Whittingham said in a statement. "We're very familiar with Chad from his year with us in 2018, and we're elated to be able to bring him back to Utah. A very successful wide receiver in his own right, he has an impressive ability to teach and to motivate his players and we look forward to having him join our staff."
Bumphis played wide receiver at Mississippi State where he was the team's leading receiver in three of the four seasons he played from 2009-12 and holds the school record for receiving touchdowns (24) in a season. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Miami Dolphins in 2013 before spending time with the Denver Broncos and Jacksonville Jaguars on the practice squad.
Following his playing career, Bumphis was a wide receiver coach at Iowa Wesleyan in 2016 and a graduate assistant at Buffalo in 2017.
"After spending 2018 here as a graduate assistant, it didn't take me long to know I eventually wanted to be back here as the wide receivers coach," Bumphis said in a statement. "It just feels like home. I can't begin to explain the excitement we've been feeling over the last couple of days. This program and the way these guys attack every day is exactly what you're looking for when you're joining a new program.
"We want to thank coach Whittingham for such a great opportunity, and also for believing in me enough to allow me to coach and mentor the young men in that receiver room. I'm beyond grateful and excited to get rolling."
Bumphis was hired in February of this year to be the wide receivers coach at Central Michigan but moved on when a similar position at Utah was made available.
Utah let go of Holliday last week after five seasons with the program. Holliday told 1280 The Zone a day after the news of his dismissal was made that the last few years had "drained me."
"It drained me," Holliday said. "I was drained. I was tired. ... When coach and I sat down, I understood it. Believe me, I understood it."
"I want to clear the air as far as I've always said I speak for myself," he added. "The University of Utah, they've been good to me. Me leaving there and everybody needs to know that they're taking care of me. This is not, 'Hey, they kicked me' — no, they're doing some things right by me, which I appreciate. I appreciate Mark Harlan, and I appreciate the opportunity that Whitt gave me. We had a great relationship — we still do. You've got to make tough decisions and do tough things."
