Michigan Names Kyle Whittingham as New Head Coach
Michigan has chosen Kyle Whittingham as its new head football coach after the firing of Sherrone Moore. The school has agreed a five year deal with the longtime Utah coach to lead the Wolverines program.
The move comes a little more than two weeks after Michigan removed Moore for cause. An internal investigation found he had an inappropriate relationship with a staff member in violation of university policy.
Soon after his dismissal Moore was accused of forcing his way into the woman’s apartment and threatening to take his own life. Prosecutors charged him with home invasion and other offenses and he now faces a court appearance in the new year.
Michigan leaders wanted a fast hire so they could steady the program and protect their roster and recruiting class. The school has faced recent turmoil with the Moore case and earlier NCAA issues from the Jim Harbaugh era so it targeted a veteran coach with a stable record.
Whittingham is expected to join Michigan around its upcoming bowl trip as planning begins for the next season. His arrival is seen as the start of a reset for the Wolverines as they try to move past the scandal and keep their national title ambitions alive.
Contract and Immediate Plans
Reports say Michigan and Whittingham agreed to a five year contract to take over the program. At Utah he had been earning close to seven million dollars per year and he steps into another top level job in the Big Ten.
Whittingham recently announced he would step down at Utah after this season but made clear he was not retiring from coaching. That timing opened the door for Michigan once Moore was fired and helped the school complete a quick search.
Utah has already named defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley as its new head coach. Scalley will guide the Utes in their bowl game while Whittingham shifts focus to Michigan and his first months in Ann Arbor.
For Michigan the priority now is keeping key players out of the transfer portal and holding together the next recruiting class. A veteran name with a reputation for consistency gives the school a talking point in those meetings with players and families.
Who is Kyle Whittingham?
Kyle Whittingham is a veteran college coach with a long record of success at Utah. He was born in November 1959 and played linebacker at BYU before a short spell in the NFL USFL and CFL.
He joined Utah’s staff in 1994 after earlier stops at BYU and Idaho State. He first worked with the defensive line then became defensive coordinator and finally took over as head coach in 2005.
Across 21 seasons as Utah head coach he posted 177 wins and 88 losses which is the most victories in school history. His teams produced 18 winning seasons and reached at least ten wins eight times.
Whittingham led Utah to a Mountain West title in 2008 then helped the program transition into the Pac 12 with strong results. The Utes won Pac 12 championships in 2021 and 2022 plus several division crowns under his watch.
He has also earned national recognition with awards such as AFCA Coach of the Year and the Bear Bryant Award after an undefeated season in 2008. Many in college football view him as a steady detail focused coach whose teams play physical defense and disciplined football.
Now he becomes the head coach at Michigan where expectations are high after recent national title success. The task in front of him is simple but demanding restore stability protect the roster and keep Michigan in the national championship race.
Disclaimer
This report is based on publicly available information, official statements, and media coverage at the time of publication. Details related to contracts, legal matters, and coaching transitions may evolve. Readers should rely on official university releases and court records for the most current and verified updates.
