ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan hired Kyle Whittingham as his football coach Friday night, giving the longtime Utah coach a five-year contract to replace the fired and disgraced Sherron Moore.
“Kyle Whittingham is a respected and highly successful head coach, a widely recognized leader of exceptional character and principled leadership,” said Athletic Director Warde Manuel. “Throughout our search, he has consistently demonstrated the qualities we value at Michigan: vision, resilience and the ability to build and maintain championship-caliber teams.”
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Whittingham, 66, announced two weeks ago that he will resign after 21 seasons in Utah. Morgan Scully was named defensive coordinator and replaced Whittingham, who won a school-record 177 games.
Whittingham did not characterize his departure from Utah as retirement, and he did not remain unemployed for long.
“Michigan is synonymous with tradition and excellence—both on and off the field—and our entire program is dedicated to upholding those values while striving for greatness,” Whittingham said in a statement.
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On Dec. 31, the 15th-ranked Utes will play Nebraska in the Las Vegas Bowl, now coached by Sculley.
“After discussions with Coach Whittingham, his representatives and the University of Michigan, we have granted their request to allow him to join the Michigan program immediately,” Utah State athletic director Mark Harlan said.
Moore was fired Dec. 10 after the school said an investigation revealed he had an inappropriate relationship with an employee. Two days later, Moore was charged with three felonies after prosecutors said he “broke into” the apartment of a woman he was having an affair with and threatened to kill himself.
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Michigan had hoped to hire a coach this month, which would improve its chances of retaining recruits and keeping key players, including quarterback Bryce Underwood, out of the transfer portal.
Whittingham has been Utah's coach since December 2004 and a member of Utah's staff since 1994. He has a 177-88 (.668) record in 21 seasons. Utah finished 18 winning seasons under Whittingham and won at least 10 games eight times.
Whittingham twice helped Utah navigate conference changes. The Utes moved from the Mountain West to the Pac-12 in 2011 before leaving the Pac-12 for the Big 12 in 2024.
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Utah was successful after both moves. Whittingham has led the Utes to back-to-back Pac-12 championships and Rose Bowl appearances in 2021 and 2022. Then, after a 5-7 campaign in its first Big 12 season, Utah went 10-2 this season and finished third in the league.
Utah capped its undefeated 2008 season with a victory over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.
Whittingham has won three national Coach of the Year awards, including the AFCA and Bear Bryant awards in 2008 and the Dodd Trophy in 2019.
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Whittingham was a linebacker at BYU under LaVell Edwards from 1978 to 1981.
“Utah will always hold a special place in my heart,” Whittingham said in a statement released by the Utes, “and I wish Coach Scully and the program a smooth transition and continued success.”
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Larry Lage, Associated Press
