Michigan Finalizing Deal With Utah Coach Kyle Whittingham

Michigan is finalizing an agreement to bring Kyle Whittingham, the long-standing coach of Utah, to lead its football program. This anticipated hire concludes a swift search after the previous coach, Sherrone Moore, was dismissed earlier this month. Whittingham, who announced his departure from Utah on December 12, 2025, after 21 years, has accumulated a 177-88 record with the Utes.

His coaching career has been predominantly spent in the Western United States, and he has led Utah to three conference titles across different leagues. This selection represents a notable deviation from Michigan's coaching history, as most recent head coaches have had previous connections to the university, unlike Whittingham.

The departure of Jim Harbaugh and the subsequent issues faced by Moore, including suspensions and NCAA investigations, created a need for a stable transition. Whittingham's experience is seen as a way to maintain a respectable program floor, though the long-term ceiling for achieving the level of success Michigan desires remains a point of discussion.