Mike Bajakian will serve as interim offensive coordinator for Utah Football

SALT LAKE CITY – University of Utah Football Head Coach Kyle Whittingham has announced the funding of Mike Bajakian He was named interim offensive coordinator today, with Bajakian also serving as quarterbacks coach and lead player.

Bajakian, who was Utah's lead offensive analyst and quarterbacks coach for the first seven games, came to Utah after holding the title of offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Northwestern from 2019-23.

During his time at Northwestern, he was a part of two bowl victories (2023 Las Vegas Bowl, 2021 Citrus Bowl), with Bajakian leading Northwestern's quarterback to bowl game MVP in 2021.

Prior to his time with the Wildcats, he spent one season at the same position at Boston College and led the Eagles to the top rushing attack in the ACC, with the rushing offense also ranked No. 3 in power football in 2019.

He also served as quarterbacks coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for four seasons and coached Jameis Winston in his first two seasons. In his debut season, Tampa Bay's offense posted a top-five finish in the NFL and the most passing yards in team history, with Winston setting team rookie records for passing yards, passing touchdowns, pass completions and passer rating.

In his second season with the Buccaneers, he helped Winston set franchise records for passing yards and touchdowns in a season, becoming the youngest player in NFL history to score 50 touchdowns. Also in 2017, he coached Winston to career highs in completion percentage, yards per attempt and passer rating.

During the 2018 season, Bajakian was on the staff to see Tampa Bay lead the NFL with 320.3 passing yards per game, with the team ranked No. 3 in total offense at the end of the season.

He came to the Buccaneers from the University of Tennessee, where he served as the team's offensive coordinator. He was part of the coaching staff that helped the Vols to their first bowl game appearance since 2010 and their first bowl victory since 2007, winning the 2015 Taxslayer Bowl.

His other coaching stops include the University of Cincinnati (2010-12, Offensive Coordinator/QBs), Central Michigan (2007-09, Offensive Coordinator/QBs) and the Chicago Bears (2004-06, Offensive Quality Control).

A native of River Vale, New Jersey, Bajakian was an All-New England Small College Athletic Conference and All-ECAC quarterback at Williams College.



COACHING CAREER
1996-97: Delbarton School, quarterbacks and passing game coordinator
1998-99: Rutgers, graduate assistant, defensive backs
2000: Sacred Heart, quarterbacks
2000-01: Michigan, graduate assistant, quarterbacks
2002-03: Central Michigan, quarterbacks
2004-06: Chicago Bears, offensive quality control, wide receiver
2007-09: Central Michigan, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach
2010-12: Cincinnati, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach
2013-14: Tennessee, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach
2015-18: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, quarterbacks coach
2019: Boston College, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach
2020-23: Northwestern University, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach
2024-present: Utah