Michigan has found its next head coach, as the Wolverines are hiring former Utah Utes coach Kyle Whittingham to a five-year deal, per Yahoo Sports and ESPN.
Whittingham announced earlier this month his plans to step down after Utah’s bow game vs. Nebraska – the Las Vegas Bowl is set for Dec. 31 – following his multi-decade tenure with the program. But he joked at the time that he wasn’t retiring and instead merely entering the transfer portal. With the actual transfer portal opening up on Jan. 2 and Michigan still without a head coach, the timing of the hiring worked out for both parties.
Whittingham will be leaving Utah to be at the Citrus Bowl, where Michigan will play against Texas, according to FOX Sports’ Bruce Feldman.
[What’s Next: 3 Priorities for Kyle Whittingham, Reportedly Michigan’s New Coach]
The 66-year-old Whittingham started his teaching profession as a graduate assistant at BYU in 1985 after taking part in as a linebacker in school for BYU earlier than a quick cease within the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams in 1987. He additionally performed in america Soccer League and Canadian Soccer League earlier than devoting himself completely to teaching. He served because the defensive coordinator for Jap Utah, the particular groups and linebackers coach for Idaho State earlier than turning into the defensive coordinator in 1992. He then joined Utah’s teaching workers because the line of defense coach in 1994 and moved on to defensive coordinator earlier than turning into the pinnacle coach in 2005.
Whittingham has a 177-88 lifetime file within the NCAA, and the Utes have been 11-6 in bowl video games throughout his time main them. He introduced Utah the Mountain West Convention championship in 2008, back-to-back Pac-12 championships in 2021 and 2022 and 4 Pac-12 division championships in 2015, 2018, 2019 and 2021. Whittingham obtained Coach of the 12 months honors in each the Mountain West and the Pac-12 and is the all-time chief in wins for Utah.
The Wolverines – who’ve had 9 completely different head coaches, together with interim coaches throughout Whittingham’s tenure with Utah – had been concentrating on Whittingham absolutely due to his continued success with Utah, whether or not within the Mountain West, Pac-12 or Large 12. There’s additionally his capability to construct Utah into a powerful program, regardless of an absence of relative sources in contrast with greater soccer colleges, just like the one he is now taking up.
“Kyle Whittingham is strictly what Michigan wants as a program proper now,” FOX Sports activities School Soccer Analyst Robert Griffin III posted to X in reponse to the information. “Runs a disciplined program with an edge to it. Is a protection first coach who will play complimentary soccer. Wanting to show he isn’t carried out successful. Feels like what Michigan itself wants.”
Michigan’s earlier coach, Sherrone Moore, was fired for trigger on Dec. 10 following an investigation about an inappropriate relationship with a workers member. Following his firing, Moore was charged with three crimes, together with house invasion.
“U-M head soccer coach Sherrone Moore has been terminated, with trigger, efficient instantly,” athletic director Warde Manuel mentioned in a press release. “Following a College investigation, credible proof was discovered that Coach Moore engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a workers member. This conduct constitutes a transparent violation of College coverage, and U-M maintains zero tolerance for such conduct.”
Moore, who was in his second season with Michigan, was suspended for 2 video games in 2025 as a part of self-imposed sanctions for NCAA violations associated to a complicated scouting scandal. The NCAA added a 3rd recreation to the suspension, which was to maintain Moore off the sideline for subsequent yr’s opener towards Western Michigan. Moore beforehand deleted his complete 52-message textual content thread on his private telephone with former staffer Connor Stallions, who led the workforce’s sign-stealing operation for this system. The texts have been later recovered and shared with the NCAA.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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