Kyle Whittingham was introduced as Michigan’s football coach on Sunday, bringing enthusiasm to a program in turmoil following the firing of coach Sherrone Moore. Whittingham, previously the head coach of Utah for 21 years, acknowledged the challenges ahead but expressed no hesitation in joining the Wolverines.
Whittingham takes over a Michigan football program that recently faced significant disruptions, including Moore’s firing on Dec. 10 due to inappropriate conduct, which also involved his subsequent arrest. Michigan’s athletic department is grappling with over $30 million in penalties from a signal-stealing scandal that put the program on probation.
As Michigan prepares for the Citrus Bowl against the Texas Longhorns, interim head coach Biff Poggi will lead the team. Whittingham met with Michigan players the night before his introduction, aiming to quickly establish a connection with the roster. “The key is the players here are rock solid,” Whittingham said, highlighting his confidence in the team despite recent controversies.Whittingham has an impressive coaching legacy, finishing his tenure at Utah with a record of 177-88 more than 21 seasons. He led the Utes to eight seasons with at least 10 wins and is recognized as the second-longest tenured coach in the Power Four behind Kirk Ferentz of Iowa. Whittingham stated, “You can count on one hand the amount of schools that if they called, I would listen. Michigan was one of those schools”.
The Michigan football program has been faced with serious ethical and legal issues. Matt Weiss, the former offensive coordinator, was charged with hacking into the computer accounts of college athletes to retrieve intimate images, resulting in his termination in January 2023. Whittingham commented on the situation, assuring that the focus would be on coaching the team and that other issues would be handled in due time, saying, “I focus on coaching the team and everything else will be handled in due time.”Athletic director Warde Manuel praised Whittingham’s character, stating, “Everyone — everyone — we talked to either started or ended their statements about him with his character.” Manuel noted that the past few weeks have been difficult for the program but expressed trust in Whittingham’s ability to restore stability.Whittingham will be on hand to observe the Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1. His immediate priority remains retaining Michigan’s players and reinforcing the recruiting class despite the distractions surrounding the football program.
Athletic director Warde Manuel praised Whittingham’s character, stating, “Everyone — everyone — we talked to either started or ended their statements about him with his character.” Manuel noted that the past few weeks have been difficult for the program but expressed trust in Whittingham’s ability to restore stability.
Whittingham will be on hand to observe the Citrus Bowl on January 1. His immediate priority remains retaining Michigan’s players and reinforcing the recruiting class despite the distractions surrounding the football program.