Utah names Mike Bajakian as interim offensive coordinator

Utah has announced the promotion of Mike Bajakian to interim offensive coordinator while continuing his role as quarterbacks coach and primary game manager under head coach Kyle Whittingham. He replaces Andy Ludwig, who resigned Sunday night following a 13-7 loss to TCU.

Bajakian came to the Utes after spending time at Northwestern, where he served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2019-2023. During his tenure at Northwestern, he was instrumental in two bowl victories, including the 2023 Las Vegas Bowl and the 2021 Citrus Bowl, where his quarterback earned MVP honors.

Prior to Northwestern, Bajakian was at Boston College, where he helped establish the ACC's top rushing offense and finish third nationally in the Power Five during the 2019 season. His NFL coaching experience includes four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as quarterbacks coach. In particular, he coached Jameis Winston in his first two seasons and helped him set several rookie records, including passing yards and touchdowns. Under Bajakian's leadership, Tampa Bay's offense ranked in the top five in the NFL, with Winston breaking franchise records for passing yards and touchdowns.

In 2017, Bajakian helped Winston set career highs in completion percentage and passer rating. A year later, the Buccaneers led the NFL with an average of 320.3 passing yards per game and ranked third in total offense. Prior to his time in the NFL, Bajakian had notable college coaching stints, including at the University of Tennessee, where he helped lead the team to a bowl game and victory in the 2015 Taxslayer Bowl. His other positions included positions as offensive coordinator at Cincinnati and Central Michigan and working on the coaching staff of the Chicago Bears early in his career.

Bajakian brings a wealth of experience to Utah and his emergence will be crucial for the Utes as their season progresses.