A new report claims one of the longest tenured head coaches in DI football has emerged as the likely pick to be the next leader of the Michigan Wolverines football program.
After winning a national championship in 2023, it has been a very bumpy ride for the Michigan football program. Head coach Jim Harbaugh left for the NFL with some black marks on his legendary resume due to recruiting and cheating scandals. Plus, former assistant Matt Weiss was found to have hacked into student social media accounts to get intimate photos.
Despite the drama, it seemed like Harbaugh’s replacement, Sherrone Moore, had stabilized the program and had them on solid footing despite the recent off-the-field drama. That was turned on its head earlier this month when the coach was ousted for an improper relationship with a staff member, then was arrested after threatening that individual and suggesting he might take his own life.
It left the university looking for a new head coach at a time when many of the best options are no longer on the market. Plus, the recent scandals have diminished what was once a top job in college football. Now, coaches like Kenny Dillingham would rather stay at Arizona State than be the new leader of the Wolverines program.
Kyle Whittingham is Now Michigan’s Top Target
However, the search for Moore’s replacement continues, and on Friday, a new report revealed the latest favorite for the Michigan job. According to On3’s Pete Nakos, “Outgoing Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham has emerged as the top target for the Michigan head coaching job.”
Whittingham has been the Utes’ coach since taking over for school legend Urban Meyer all the way back in 2005. He amassed a 176-88 record as the leader of the program and is 11-6 in bowl games. The 66-year-old stepped down from the position after the 2025 season, but was not planning to retire.
Following that report, ESPN’s Dan Wetel and Pete Thamel added that a contract with Whittingham could be finalized as soon as Friday.
He was first linked to the Michigan job this week. The veteran coach doesn’t have any ties to Michigan and was a star at BYU before eventually having coaching jobs at Idaho State and Utah.
