Michigan has reached an agreement with Kyle Whittingham to become the school's next head football coach, according to in an ESPN reportturning to one of the sport's most seasoned figures to stabilize a program stifled by scandal.
Whittingham, 66, has agreed to a five-year contract that is expected to be officially announced later Friday, ESPN's Pete Thamel and Dan Wetzel reported. The move comes weeks after Whittingham stepped down from his longtime position at Utah, where he spent 21 seasons as head coach and became the most successful figure in program history.
At Utah, Whittingham compiled a 177-88 record and led the Utes to consistent national relevance, including an undefeated 13-0 campaign in 2008. His overall winning percentage of 66.8% and longevity with one program have long positioned him as a future College Football Hall of Fame inductee.
When Whittingham announced his retirement from Utah earlier this month, he made it clear he wasn't retiring from coaching, publicly joking that he was entering the “transfer portal.” The wording of his departure, described as a resignation rather than a resignation, immediately fueled speculation that another high-profile opportunity could be imminent.
The Michigan vacancy arose under completely different circumstances. The search for a new head coach has been called sudden dismissal of Sherron Moorewho was fired earlier this month after the university said an internal investigation found “credible evidence” of an inappropriate relationship with an employee.
A few hours after his dismissal, Moore was arrested by police in the town of Pittsfield, near Ann Arbor. later charged with three crimesincluding home invasion and stalking a person he had previously dated. Washtenaw County prosecutors said Moore “unlawfully entered[ed] home of the victim Mr Moore was dating” and accused him of “terrorizing” the woman after losing her job.
Moore, 39, spent two nights in jail after his arrest. His lawyer, Joe Simon, said there was “no evidence that he poses a threat.” Michigan has not publicly disclosed details of the alleged relationship, although athletic director Warde Manuel said Moore's behavior constituted a “clear violation of university policy.”
Moore, who is married with three young daughters, signed a five-year contract last year with a base salary of $5.5 million. Under the terms of the deal, Michigan will not be required to buy out the company because he was fired for cause.
