Kyle Whittingham is wasting no time putting his stamp on Michigan’s football program, and he’s doing it with a familiar face by his side. Freddie Whittingham, Kyle’s younger brother and a longtime assistant at Utah, is expected to join the Wolverines’ new-look staff in Ann Arbor.
The move adds another layer of continuity and experience to a staff that’s already taking shape quickly. Michigan is also bringing in offensive coordinator Jason Beck and wide receivers coach Micah Simon, forming what looks to be a cohesive offensive brain trust. But Freddie’s addition is especially intriguing - not just because of the family ties, but because of the track record he brings with him.
Freddie Whittingham has been a fixture in the Utah football program since 2012. He started out behind the scenes as the director of player personnel, helping shape the roster from the ground up. But in 2016, he transitioned to a more hands-on role as tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator - and that’s where he really made his mark.
Over the past decade, Utah’s tight ends haven’t just been part of the offense - they’ve been the engine. Under Freddie’s guidance, the position group has accounted for a staggering 32% of the Utes’ total offensive yardage over the last five seasons.
That’s not a typo. Nearly a third of Utah’s production came from tight ends, a rarity in today’s game where wide receivers usually dominate the stat sheet.
It gets even more impressive when you dig into the consistency. A Utah tight end has caught a pass in 95 of the last 96 games, including a streak of 77 straight. And in three of the past six seasons, a tight end led the team in receiving - a testament to both scheme and development.
Freddie’s work with individual players has been just as impactful. In 2024, Brant Kuithe capped off a stellar college career with 35 catches for 505 yards and eight touchdowns - the most receiving scores on the team that year.
Kuithe didn’t just have a strong season; he became Utah’s all-time leader in both receptions and receiving yards by a tight end. That’s legacy-building stuff.
And the pipeline didn’t dry up after Kuithe. This past season, Utah’s top two tight ends - JJ Buchanan and Dallen Bentley - combined for 64 receptions, 865 yards, and nine touchdowns. Bentley’s performance earned him a spot on the All-Big 12 third team, further proof that Freddie knows how to get the most out of his guys.
For Michigan, this hire is about more than just bloodlines. It’s about bringing in a proven developer of talent, someone who can bring a tight end-centric approach that has worked at a high level. With the Wolverines entering a new era under Kyle Whittingham, adding a coach who understands both the system and the culture could be a game-changer.
Freddie Whittingham’s arrival in Ann Arbor gives Michigan a coach who’s not only deeply familiar with his brother’s philosophy but has also carved out his own identity as a top-tier position coach and recruiter. If his success at Utah is any indication, Michigan fans should expect the tight end room to become a focal point of the offense - and a problem for opposing defenses.