University of Michigan hires Utah's Kyle Whittingham to be its next football coach

The University of Michigan on Friday hired outgoing Utah coach Kyle Whittingham to lead the scandal-plagued Wolverines football program, a little more than two weeks after the shocking dismissal and arrest of coach Sherrone Moore

The University of Michigan on Friday hired outgoing Utah coach Kyle Whittingham to lead the scandal-plagued Wolverines football program, a little more than two weeks after the shocking dismissal and arrest of coach Sherrone Moore.

The program announced the hiring decision Friday night and said Whittingham’s five-year contract will run through the 2030 season.

Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said that throughout the search for a new coach, Whittingham “consistently demonstrated the qualities we value at Michigan: vision, resilience, and the ability to build and sustain championship-caliber teams.”

“Kyle brings not only a proven track record of success, but also a commitment to creating a program rooted in toughness, physicality, discipline and respect — where student-athletes and coaches represent the university with distinction both on and off the field,” he said in a written statement announcing the deal.

Whittingham announced two weeks ago that he was stepping down as Utah’s winningest coach — though the 66-year-old didn’t rule out coaching again.