Utah offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig is resigning

Utah offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig, who helped the team to back-to-back conference championships in 2021 and 2022, has resigned amid a difficult second season, coach Kyle Whittingham announced Sunday night.

Ludwig, in his second term as Utah's offensive coordinator, had overseen the offense since 2019 after previously working there from 2005 to 2008. Whittingham did not immediately name a replacement.

“Andy is the consummate professional and we would like to thank him for his total commitment to our program throughout his 10 seasons with us,” Whittingham said in a statement. “Coach Ludwig has been instrumental in our success here at Utah and I personally have great respect and admiration for Andy, both as a coach and as a person.”

Utah ranked 98th nationally in scoring last season and has slipped to 95th this season following Saturday's 13-7 home loss to TCU. Top quarterback Cameron Rising missed the entire 2023 season with a knee injury and suffered a throwing hand injury in Week 2 this fall that ultimately sidelined him for the season. Backup Isaac Wilson has stepped in and completed just 54.8% of his passes with seven touchdowns and eight interceptions. Utah has lost three straight for the first time since 2017 and is averaging just 16.2 points in Big 12 play.

The 60-year-old Ludwig provided stability and success to Utah's offense during his two tenures there, while Whittingham changed offensive coordinators at other times. Lugwig almost took on the same role at Notre Dame after the 2022 season, but remained in Utah. He also has coordinator experience at Vanderbilt, Wisconsin, San Diego State, Cal, Oregon and Fresno State.

Utah's offensive staff includes veteran assistants such as line coach Jim Harding and tight ends coach Freddie Whittingham, brother of Kyle Whittingham. The Utes also have senior offensive analyst Mike Bajakian, most recently the offensive coordinator at Northwestern and a coordinator at Boston College in Tennessee and elsewhere.

Utah visits Houston this week.