Michigan has employed former longtime Utah coach Kyle Whittingham because the twenty second coach in program historical past, the college introduced on Friday. Whttingham, 66, stepped down in December after 21 seasons main the Utes, and he left the door open to persevering with his legendary teaching profession elsewhere. He’ll do exactly that underneath a five-year deal by the 2030 season with the Wolverines. CBS Sports activities’ Matt Zenitz first reported Whittingham’s impending rent on Friday.
Utah offensive coordinator Jason Beck is predicted to observe Whittingham to Michigan to imagine the identical place, whereas BYU defensive coordinator Jay Hill is predicted to be one of many names of curiosity to fill that function for the Wolverines underneath the brand new regime, sources confirmed to Zenitz.
“We’re honored to steer the excellent student-athletes, coaches, and workers who characterize Michigan Soccer every day,” Whittingham mentioned in a press release. “Michigan is synonymous with custom and excellence — each on the sphere and past — and our complete program is dedicated to upholding these values whereas striving for greatness collectively. My household and I are thrilled to hitch the College of Michigan group, and we look ahead to serving to our gamers develop, develop, and attain their highest potential — on the gridiron, within the classroom, and as leaders. It is a privilege to be a part of one thing that conjures up delight in each Wolverine fan. Go Blue!”
Over greater than three a long time with the Utes, first as an assistant after which as head coach since 2005, Whittingham cultivated a clear picture and a profitable program. Each components would make him engaging to the Wolverines, who’re in search of to show the web page from a scandal-ridden period with out taking a step again on the sphere.
Michigan is within the midst of an exterior assessment targeted on its dealing with of Sherrone Moore, who was fired with trigger on Dec. 10 after proof surfaced that he had an inappropriate relationship with a workers member. Moore, who had been this system’s offensive coordinator throughout Jim Harbaugh’s scandal-marred tenure, was subsequently charged with felony house invasion and stalking.
Kyle Whittingham could also be short-term resolution for Michigan, however he is good rent for this turbulent second
Shehan Jeyarajah
Whittingham’s ultimate Utah crew completed 10-2 (7-2 Massive 12) this previous season earlier than the college introduced on Dec. 13 that he could be stepping right down to make method for head coach-in-waiting Morgan Scalley to start his tenure. Nonetheless, Whittingham remains to be slated to teach the Utes within the Las Vegas Bowl in opposition to Nebraska on New Yr’s Eve.Utah reached the Rose Bowl in each 2021 and 2022 underneath Whittingham after profitable 11 video games in 2019. Arguably his finest season with the Utes got here in 2008, nonetheless, when Utah went 13-0, beat Alabama within the Sugar Bowl and completed No. 2 within the AP ballot.
“Kyle Whittingham is a well-respected and extremely profitable head coach who’s widely known as a pacesetter of remarkable character and principled management,” Michigan AD Warde Manuel mentioned. “All through our search, he persistently demonstrated the qualities we worth at Michigan: imaginative and prescient, resilience, and the power to construct and maintain championship-caliber groups. Kyle brings not solely a confirmed monitor document of success, but additionally a dedication to making a program rooted in toughness, physicality, self-discipline and respect — the place student-athletes and coaches characterize the college with distinction each on and off the sphere. We’re excited to welcome Kyle to the College of Michigan household as he takes the helm of our soccer program.”
Whittingham was in line to teach the Utes in opposition to Nebraska within the Las Vegas Bowl on New Yr’s Eve in his ultimate sport with this system; nonetheless, Utah AD Mark Harlan confirmed in a press release that Whittingham is not going to be on the sideline for the postseason sport and can be part of Michigan instantly.
“The College of Utah is grateful for Coach Whittingham’s unbelievable contributions over his lengthy tenure on the college, and we want him and his household all one of the best with this subsequent step in his profession,” Harlan mentioned. “After discussions with Coach Whittingham, his representatives and the College of Michigan, we now have granted their request to permit him to hitch the Michigan program instantly.”
Michigan’s search course of
Moore’s firing got here after the early signing interval for highschool prospects and effectively earlier than the switch portal opens on Jan. 2, which eradicated any want for the Wolverines to hurry the hiring course of.
Although Michigan was a late entrant to what’s been a busy teaching carousel, the Wolverines have been the one Energy 4 faculty in the marketplace for the previous couple of weeks. Given the job’s attract as one of many nation’s finest, the listing of names related to the opening in some capability was robust.
Amongst them have been Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer, Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham and Louisville’s Jeff Brohm. The elevation of interim coach Biff Poggi additionally loomed as a possible choice if the Wolverines struggled to discover a appropriate candidate. Poggi has been main Michigan because it prepares to play Texas within the Citrus Bowl on New Yr’s Eve.
Stabilizing drive
Hiring Whittingham as an alternative of elevating Poggi, who can be 66, alerts that Michigan is OK with a comparatively short-term rent however that it desires to perform a few issues within the meantime. First, touchdown one of many longest-tenured and most profitable sitting head coaches on the Energy 4 stage reveals the Wolverines are critical about contending within the Massive Ten and have no real interest in taking a step again competitively as they type their method by the wreckage of what Harbaugh and Moore left behind.
Elevating Poggi might have been interpreted as a gesture of give up for the 2026 season after he went 6-16 as head coach at Charlotte in 2023 and 2024. Secondly, hiring Whittingham would present the college is intent on shifting ahead from its previous. Poggi served two stints underneath Harbaugh at Michigan, together with one as this system’s affiliate head coach in 2021 and 2022. Honest or not, he’s seen as a product of that period.
So whereas Whittingham might not be a long-term resolution, he is greater than a stopgap interim. He is a confirmed winner who will help this system flip the web page from the turmoil of the Harbaugh and Moore eras. As he wipes the slate clear, this system can start getting ready to make a run at an enormous identify sooner or later within the comparatively close to future.
Utah dynamic
Hiring Whittingham would possibly arrange an fascinating tug of struggle for each staffers and gamers between Michigan and Utah. What’s sure is that Whittingham will probably be with out Scalley as his defensive coordinator for the primary time because the 2015 season.
As Scalley launches his Utah tenure and places his personal spin on issues there, will he be capable of fend off a well-resourced Michigan program led by Whittingham? One of many high storylines to watch will probably be Whittingham’s urge for food to recruit from Utah’s roster and training workers. It was at all times assumed that when the Whittingham to Scalley transition occurred at Utah, Whittingham could be retiring.
As a substitute, he has landed a good higher job. If he makes an attempt to construct the Wolverines program with Utah expertise, it might make for a clumsy dynamic that might have been tough to think about just some weeks in the past.
Kyle Whittingham’s profession success by the numbers
Through CBS Sports activities Analysis
- 177-88 document (.668) in 21 seasons as full-time Utah coach (2005-25)
- Most wins (177) by head coach in Utah program historical past
- Tied for second-longest tenured energetic head coach in FBS (behind Kirk Ferentz, 27 seasons)
- Eight seasons with 10+ wins
- Three convention titles (2008 Mountain West; 2021-22 Pac-12)
- Three-time convention Coach of the Yr (2008 Mountain West; 2019 and 2021 Pac-12)
