Kyle Whittingham - Right man, right time for Michigan

Are the Michigan Wolverines the luckiest program in college football?

First there was ‘Hamburger Gate’; former head coach Jim Harbaugh escaping any real sanction of note for violating NCAA rules with regards to recruiting. Then there was, of course Connor Stalions, the man who turned the art form of sign stealing into a machine of deceit and flagrant cheating on an industrial scale.

Stalions lost his job, but the Wolverine program continued unabated, basking in the warm glow of their 2023 National Championship winning season. And finally, we have Sherrone Moore, fired on December 11 for cause following an improper relationship and the carnage that followed, which has cost him his family and his liberty as well as his position.

Removing your head coach essentially after the coaching carousel has come to a halt is at best inconvenient, at worst a nightmare. With all the high-profile candidates in their new homes, who was left to hire worthy of leading a college football program the size and stature of Michigan?

Sliding doors

After four years of unrelenting chaos and drama, Athletics Director Warde Manuel was a man under pressure. At a school that demands sporting success, lines had been crossed time and time again, leading many to wonder if their incumbent AD was also on his way out of Ann Arbor.

The board of governors gave Manuel a stay of execution. But he and the watching world were in no doubt that he had to get this hire correct - again made all the harder by the timing of Moore’s departure. Kenny Dillingham decided to stay at Arizona State. In-house candidate Biff Poggi was considered but ultimately ruled out.

Fortunately for Manuel and the Wolverines, another school 1,600 miles away was making changes. The Utah football team has been the epitome of stability for the last two decades, being led by one man. Kyle Whittingham had been the Utes head Coach for 21 seasons and coaching in Salt Lake City since 1994.

Throughout his tenure, Utah has produced formidable football teams. With a career record of 177-88, Whittingham has won nine or more games eleven times - in three different conferences. During his reign, Utah has never lost more than seven games (only three times) and has earned three conference titles.

But Whittingham is 66 years old. And there was the feeling in Utah that the heir apparent to their long-time leader was in the building and likely to leave town soon. So in order to promote defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley, they needed to expedite the departure of the man that built the program into a powerhouse.

Whittingham took it graciously, but it was notable during his final press conference that the phrase ‘retirement’ was never uttered. Instead, Whittingham called himself “a free agent - I’m in the transfer portal.” This was more than enough encouragement for Michigan to put out feelers.

The right man for the job

Three days later, and the announcement was made; Kyle Whittingham would be the next Wolverines’ head coach. Any concerns about his age were put to bed with the disclosure of his contract details, with Michigan paying him $8.2m a year for the next five seasons - a commitment from both sides that this is a long-term relationship.

It is hard to impress upon people the fortune that befell Michigan in this situation. Not only have they secured one of the winningest coaches in college football history, but they have employed a leader of outstanding moral character, whose Utah program was beyond reproach when it came to off-the-field behaviour.

Most Wolverine fans will have been able to forgive previous transgressions - success allows you that luxury. But the horrifying details that led to Sherrone Moore’s sacking has changed the mindset in Ann Arbor. There was something rotten about this program - and Whittingham is the man to come in and clean house.

It remains to be seen if their new head coach can persuade his offensive coordinator, Jason Beck, to follow him to the Midwest. One of the brightest minds in the game, there is excitement as to what Beck could achieve with Michigan’s young quarterback phenom Bryce Underwood.

Regardless as to the makeup of his staff, Whittingham will have this program set up for success in the Big Ten and beyond in short order. And the only drama that will come with it will be on the gridiron.

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