In a surprising turn of events, the University of Michigan has appointed Kyle Whittingham, former head coach of Utah, to step into the spotlight as the new leader of their beleaguered football program. This decision comes just over two weeks after the shocking dismissal and subsequent arrest of coach Sherrone Moore.
News sources like ESPN and The Associated Press have reported that Whittingham signed a five-year deal to take the reins at Michigan.
Just a couple of weeks back, Whittingham had announced his intention to step down from his role as the most successful coach in Utah’s history, even hinting that retirement might not be final.
Rumor has it, Whittingham’s exit was deliberate, making room for defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley, recently d the “head coach in waiting” since July 2024. If Whittingham had returned for the 2026 season, Scalley would have secured the position of official successor by then.
Michigan, recognized as one of college football’s winningest teams, is currently striving to regain its footing amid a storm of scandals. The official word from the university on December 10 marked Moore’s dismissal, stating it was effective immediately and ‘with cause.’
The university added that a credible investigation had revealed Moore’s involvement in an inappropriate relationship with another staff member, directly violating university policy on such conduct.
Post-dismissal, there were troubling reports that Moore confronted the staffer, allegedly threatening to harm himself and expressing how he felt she had ruined his life, according to prosecutors.
Mere weeks earlier, another scandal involving Michigan football broke, leading to the suspension of an analytics assistant, Connor Stalions. It is alleged that he was capturing video of the opposing team’s sideline communication, sparking concerns and controversy around the Wolverines’ practices.
Despite the cloud of controversy, Michigan clinched the national title after a dominating 34-13 victory against the Washington Huskies on January 8, 2024, but the ongoing sign-stealing allegations have cast a shadow over this achievement.
Two weeks following Michigan’s title win, the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers named former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh as their new coach.
In yet another twist, former assistant Matthew Weiss was indicted for allegedly hacking into 3,300 student accounts to retrieve intimate photographs, bringing another wave of scrutiny upon the program.
Whittingham makes his entrance into Ann Arbor carrying a reputation for leading a largely scandal-free operation. During his time at Utah, he achieved an impressive record of 177 wins against 88 losses, including three seasons with 10+ wins in the past five years.
The No. 15 Utes are set to compete against Nebraska on Wednesday in the Las Vegas Bowl, while Michigan prepares to take on No. 13 Texas in the Citrus Bowl on the same day.
As Whittingham transitions to his new role, it remains uncertain if he will bring any members of his Utah coaching staff to Michigan—something that often occurs in college football when head coaches move between programs. His long-time cornerbacks coach, Sharrieff Shah, has been instrumental this season, mentoring players in a strong pass defense, and is also noted for his connection to reality TV, being married to former “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” star Jen Shah.
Originally published on NBCNews.com
