Kyle Whittingham

SI: How did your late father, Fred, a former Utah defensive coordinator, impact your defensive philosophy?

KW: He was one of the best defensive coaches I've ever been around. The essence of what we do is based on what I learned from him: [We run] a 4--3 scheme, and we play more man-to-man than most teams.

SI: Jordan Wynn says that you really tried to get to know him during the recruiting process. Is that a big priority for you?

KW: It's very important. The more you know about your players, the better relationships you can build. [It's] one of the things I really enjoy about coaching at the collegiate level. I know some better than others, but I try to know them all.

SI: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR MUSICAL TASTES?

KW: I'M A CLASSIC-ROCK GUY. MY FAVORITE BANDS INCLUDE LYNYRD SKYNYRD, PINK FLOYD. I DON'T DISCUSS THEM WITH MY PLAYERS. THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO THOSE GUYS ARE.

SI: You were an educational psychology major at BYU. Who do you like to read?

KW: C.S. Lewis is one of my favorite writers. I have a book on leadership by John Wooden on my nightstand right now.

SI: How has the team responded to the move to the Pac-12?

KW: Our guys are excited about the challenge. Given that our first Pac-12 game is at USC, it will be a big challenge right away.