Meet Kyle Whittingham, The New Michigan Head Coach After Sherrone Moore's Firing And Arrest

Michigan Football has found its new head coach following the firing of Sherrone Moore, 39, after allegations of an extramarital affair with a staff member. After weeks of scandal and national scrutiny, the university finalised a deal to hire former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham as its next head coach. The priority now lies solely on stabilising the Michigan program and making up for the financial and reputational damage caused by Moore's downfall. 

Whittingham's hiring marks the 22nd head coach change in the program, a third in the last four years, following Sheerone Moore (2024-25) and Jim Harbaugh (2022-23). The hire brings one of the most respected coaches in college football, and it's clear that this time around, the Michigan Wolverines are prioritising credibility, discipline, and battle-tested experience after one of the darkest chapters in program history.

Why did Michigan turn to Kyle Whittingham?

Unlike some of the program's former coaches, Kyle Whittingham is the opposite of a splashy hire, but his prestigious portfolio speaks for itself. Now 66, Whittingham has dedicated more than three decades of his career to Utah, operating as a head coach in 21 seasons. Under his leadership, the Utes have grown into one of the most disciplined and consistent teams in the country. 

Voted Coach of the Year, Kyle Whittingham left Utah a few weeks ago, as the coach with the most wins in school history. He holds a legendary 177–88 record across 17 bowl appearances, multiple conference titles, and a reputation for the toughness that perfectly mirrors Michigan's own football identity. His former team, the Utes, was known for strong defence, brilliant line play, and resilience. 

Given Michigan's whirlwind fate marred by controversies in recent years, it was high time that the program hired someone whose reputation and experience speak for themselves rather than flash. And with Whittingham's hire, he checks every box.

Who is Kyle Whittingham?

Born in November 1959 in California's San Luis Obispo, Kyle Whittingham hails from a prestigious football lineage. His late father, Fred Whittingham, was a linebacker who played and coached in the NFL and later served as a defensive coordinator at Utah. Kyle joined the university's staff in 1994, eventually becoming defensive coordinator before taking over as head coach in 2004 after Urban Meyer left.

Whittingham remained Utah's head coach for over two decades, building the team into a national powerhouse. Despite realignments and shifting college football economies, his teams rarely lost their edge. With the Utes, Whittingham won two Pac-12 titles (2021-2022) and was named AFCA Coach of the Year in 2008. 

Another detail to note as he starts his coaching journey in Ann Arbor is that Whittingham is 3–0 all-time against Michigan as a head coach. His Utah teams defeated the Wolverines in 2008, 2014, and 2015, including Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan debut. Those wins further reinforced the coach's reputation as not only a worthy hire but a meticulous game planner who thrives against high-profile opponents.

What Whittingham's hire means for Michigan Football

After two back-to-back failed hires and ongoing legal issues, Whittingham's hiring seems the perfect choice to reinvent the program and protect its legacy. He is officially joining Michigan on Saturday, December 27, 2025, ahead of the Wolverines’ Citrus Bowl preparations in Orlando. He has signed a five-year contract with the program, running through the 2030 season, worth around USD 8.2 million annually, making his deal's total worth USD 41 million.

Sherrone Moore's firing from the Michigan head coach position

Michigan's search for a new head coach began earlier this month after Sherrone Moore was permanently terminated from the position. On December 10, 2025, Moore was fired from the program after a university investigation confirmed his "inappropriate relationship with a staff member". His dismissal was marked as "for cause", ending his 5-year tenure after just two seasons as the program's head coach.

Moore finished with an overall record of 18-8 as Michigan's head coach, including a 9-3 mark in the 2025 season. Just hours after his dismissal, he was arrested for multiple criminal charges, including misdemeanor and felony home invasion. He was bailed out the next day.

Months before his dismissal, Moore was suspended for two games in the 2025 season for deleted text messages sent to ex-staffer Connor Stalions throughout the sign-stealing row. NCAA officials discovered that Moore had deleted a text chain containing 52 messages that he had exchanged with Stalions, sent the same day Stalions was exposed for having coordinated an illicit scouting network.

What happened during Sherrone Moore's arraignment?

On December 12, 2025, Sherrone Moore was arraigned on one felony and two misdemeanor counts: third-degree home invasion, stalking, and breaking in. He posted bail within a day and will now have to wear a GPS tether and continue to receive mental health treatment, as conditions of his release. He is also prohibited from having any contact with the staffer. Moore is due in court on January 22, 2026, for a probable cause hearing.

After much drama and amid ongoing legal complications, Kyle Whittingham's hiring seems just the perfect strategy to restore Michigan Football's reputation in college football. What are your thoughts on the new head coach?

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