Kyle Whittingham, Michigan Agree to HC Contract After Sherrone Moore Firing

The University of Michigan has landed on Kyle Whittingham as its next head football coach.

Michigan Athletic Director Warde Manuel announced the news Friday:

"Kyle Whittingham is a well-respected and highly successful head coach who is widely recognized as a leader of exceptional character and principled leadership. Throughout our search, he 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. We are excited to welcome Kyle to the University of Michigan family as he takes the helm of our football program."

Whittingham added in a statement:

"We are honored to lead the outstanding student-athletes, coaches, and staff who represent Michigan Football each day. Michigan is synonymous with tradition and excellence -- both on the field and beyond -- and our entire program is committed to upholding those values while striving for greatness together. My family and I are thrilled to join the University of Michigan community, and we look forward to helping our players grow, develop, and reach their highest potential -- on the gridiron, in the classroom, and as leaders. It's a privilege to be part of something that inspires pride in every Wolverine fan. Go Blue!"

Per Pete Thamel and Dan Wetzel of ESPN, Whittingham signed a five-year contract. Whittingham's deal averages $8.2 million per year and is 75 percent guaranteed, Thamel and Wetzel added.

Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports reported that Utah offensive coordinator Jason Beck "is expected to be the target" for Whittingham to fill the same role on his Michigan staff.

This hiring comes after the university fired Sherrone Moore on Dec. 10. Manuel said in a statement Moore's dismissal was for cause following an investigation that found "credible evidence" of an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.

Moore just wrapped up his second season leading the program. He went 16-8 after taking over for Jim Harbaugh, who left to become the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers in January 2024.

Biff Poggi, who was an associate head coach on the staff in 2025, was named interim head coach after Moore's firing.

Michigan became the latest in a surprisingly long line of prestige programs to have a coaching vacancy in 2025. LSU, Mississippi, Penn State and Florida all hired new coaches.

The Wolverines job figured to be of significant interest to high-profile candidates, even at this late stage of the hiring cycle. They have a roster already loaded with talent and were adding the 11th-best recruiting class in the 2026 cycle, led by the nation's top EDGE prospect in Carter Meadows.

Whittingham emerged as a top candidate for the Wolverines not long after announcing he would be stepping down from his post at Utah following the Las Vegas Bowl.

It was a bit of a surprise move because Whittingham has been so synonymous with Utes football. He has been with the program since 1994 and took over as head coach in 2005 after Urban Meyer left to take the job at Florida.

One notable part of Whittingham's decision to step down is there was no indication he was looking to retire, leaving open the possibility he could take a different job if the right one came along.

Michigan is a great opportunity for a veteran head coach, especially one with the type of track record Whittingham has. Utah was often one of the best teams in the nation year after year under his watch, including an undefeated season in 2008 that retroactively earned the program a share of the national title, along with Florida, from the NCAA.

Despite the late change at head coach, the Wolverines were able to maintain a strong recruiting class for 2026, led by 5-star standouts Carter Meadows and Savion Hiter.

Bringing in Whittingham could add a boost to Michigan's talent pool with the transfer portal open from Jan. 2-16.

The baseline talent in Michigan was already high after going 9-3 in 2025, so Whittingham is walking into a situation that could be ready-made to compete for a spot in the College Football Playoff next season.