Kyle Whittingham To Take Over As Head Coach Of Michigan Wolverines
Dec 26, 2025, 2:32 PM | Updated: Dec 29, 2025, 2:30 pm
Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham looks on after the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News)
(Photo courtesy of Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — Weeks of program turmoil appear to be ending with the Michigan Wolverines giving their fanbase a late gift with the hiring of Kyle Whittingham as head coach.
In a shocking turn of events, former Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham will fill the vacancy for Michigan in Ann Arbor.
𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥: Welcome to Michigan, Coach Whittingham! 〽️
🗞️ https://t.co/NUvgIj1ekS pic.twitter.com/dm3NeaU3D6
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) December 27, 2025
ESPN’s Pete Thamel and Dan Wetzel first broke the news on Friday, December 26.
Kyle Whittingham: The Man Who Redefined The University of Utah
Breaking: Former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham has agreed to a five-year deal to become Michigan’s next head coach, sources tell @PeteThamel and @DanWetzel.
The deal is expected later today. pic.twitter.com/1Q5Y1mdKEj
— ESPN (@espn) December 26, 2025
Whittingham, the Utes’ all-time winningest head coach, spent 32 seasons in Salt Lake City. He was the program’s head coach for 21 of those years.
Under Whittingham, Utah football went 177-88, won three conference championships, made two Rose Bowls, and defeated Alabama in the 2008 Sugar Bowl on the tail end of an undefeated season.
He announced he would step down as the Utes’ head coach on Friday, December 12.
RELATED: Morgan Scalley Officially Named Head Coach Of Utah Football Program
View this post on Instagram
That said, the phrasing around his departure was very specific. “Stepping down” rather than “retiring.”
Following the drama around former Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore, the Big Ten powerhouse had a spot to fill. With a certain veteran from the Wasatch Front on the market, the Wolverines pounced.
RELATED STORIES
Kyle Whittingham takes charge of storied Michigan Wolverines
In 2025, Michigan went 9-3 in the regular season and finished 19th in the College Football Playoff poll.
NEWS: Utah coach Kyle Whittingham has emerged as the focus of the University of Michigan’s coaching search, sources tell @DanWetzel and me. More here: https://t.co/YLyEu2J2cO
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 26, 2025
Since 2020, the Wolverines have won nearly 80 percent of their games, won three Big Ten Championships, one national title, and sent 42 players to the NFL.
Michigan is a consensus top-five brand in college football, and now a former Ute will lead them into their next chapter.
