By LARRY LAGE AP Sports Writer
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan has agreed to a five-year contract with Kyle Whittingham to replace fired and disgraced football coach Sherrone Moore, according to multiple reports.
Two people familiar with the situation confirmed the hire to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity on Friday because the move had not been officially announced.
Whittingham’s deal at Michigan averages $8.2 million per year over the course of the contract, ESPN reported. The deal is reportedly 75% guaranteed, and he is expected to make $8 million in salary in 2026. The hire is expected to be officially announced on Friday.
Whittingham, 66, announced two weeks ago that he would step down after 21 seasons as Utah’s coach. Morgan Scalley was promoted from defensive coordinator to replace Whittingham, who has won a school-record 177 games.
The 15th-ranked Utes will square off with Nebraska in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 31.
After talking with Utah players in Las Vegas on Friday, Whittingham was reportedly set to fly to Orlando and get to work as Michigan’s head coach. The Wolverines face Texas in the Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Eve.
It was considered paramount for Michigan that Whittingham get to Florida to meet with his new team, and the players’ family members, to get going on his new job, ESPN reported.
“Michigan Football is in GREAT hands under Kyle Whittingham !!!!” Michigan interim coach Biff Poggi posted on X. “Proven winner, true gentleman, tough nosed Michigan coach of days gone by.”
Moore was fired on Dec. 10, when the school said an investigation uncovered his inappropriate relationship with a staffer. Two days later, Moore was charged with three crimes after prosecutors said he “barged his way” into the apartment of a woman he’d been having an affair with and threatened to kill himself.
Michigan was hoping to hire a coach this month, helping its chances of retaining recruits and keeping key players, including quarterback Bryce Underwood, out of the transfer portal.
Whittingham has been Utah’s coach since December 2004 and a member of the Utes’ staff since 1994. He has a 177-88 (.668) record over 21 seasons. Utah finished with 18 winning seasons under Whittingham and won at least 10 games eight times.
Whittingham made clear in public comments that he was not retiring, as he joked he was entering “the transfer portal.” The wording of his departure as “stepping down” combined with his comments hinted at another potential head coaching job.
Whittingham twice helped Utah navigate conference changes. The Utes moved from the Mountain West Conference to the Pac-12 Conference in 2011 and then departed the Pac-12 for the Big 12 Conference in 2024.
Utah found success following both moves. Whittingham led the Utes to back-to-back Pac-12 championships and Rose Bowl appearances in 2021 and 2022. Then, after a 5-7 campaign in its first Big 12 season, Utah went 10-2 this season and finished in a tie for third place in the league.
Utah capped an undefeated season in 2008 with a victory over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.
Whittingham won three national coach of the year awards, including the AFCA and Bear Bryant awards in 2008 and the Dodd Trophy in 2019.
Whittingham was a linebacker at BYU under LaVell Edwards from 1978 to 1981.