When Michigan’s coaching search kicked into high gear late last December, things looked bleak. The Wolverines had just fired Sherrone Moore for cause, and while most top programs had already made their hires, Michigan was suddenly left scrambling at a time when the coaching carousel had all but stopped spinning.
Then Kyle Whittingham happened.
The longtime Utah head coach signed on the dotted line the day after Christmas, instantly shifting the narrative from panic to promise in Ann Arbor. Whittingham didn’t just bring stability-he brought credibility. And according to a comprehensive evaluation of this year’s FBS coaching hires, he brought one of the best moves of the cycle.
Whittingham earned an “A” grade in a recent breakdown of coaching changes, joining a short list of standout hires that included UCLA, Virginia Tech, and Oklahoma State. While his departure from Utah wasn’t entirely unexpected-he’s flirted with retirement talk for years-his decision to jump back into the fire caught more than a few people off guard. But for Michigan, it couldn’t have come at a better time.
There’s a reason Whittingham’s arrival is being praised so highly. Over two decades in Salt Lake City, he turned Utah into a model of consistency.
Eight seasons with 10 or more wins. A perfect 13-0 campaign in 2008 that ended with a Sugar Bowl win over Nick Saban’s Alabama.
And he did it all without ever chasing the next big job. In fact, until now, Whittingham hadn’t changed jobs since 1994, when he joined Utah as a defensive line coach after leaving Idaho State.
That kind of loyalty and program-building experience is rare-and exactly what Michigan needed.
It’s also worth noting: this marks the first time Michigan has hired a sitting college head coach since Brady Hoke came over from San Diego State in 2011. That’s a long time to go without making a move like this, and it speaks volumes about the confidence Michigan has in Whittingham’s ability to lead the program through a brutal Big Ten schedule and into a new era.
And let’s be clear-the road ahead won’t be easy. Michigan’s 2026 slate includes Oklahoma, Iowa, Penn State, Indiana, Oregon, and, of course, Ohio State.
That’s a gauntlet by any standard. But Whittingham’s track record suggests he’s more than capable of navigating it.
One of the more intriguing elements of this hire is the offensive fit. Whittingham’s staff includes offensive coordinator Jason Beck, whose system is seen as a strong match for highly touted quarterback Bryce Underwood.
Beck’s offense is designed to maximize quarterback play, and Underwood’s skill set could thrive in that structure. If the pairing clicks, Michigan’s offense might have the firepower to match its always-physical defense.
Speaking of defense, Whittingham finalized his defensive coaching staff on February 14 by bringing in Larry Black from Vanderbilt. Black had just been promoted to co-defensive coordinator in Nashville, but when Whittingham called, he answered. And it’s easy to see why.
In just three seasons at Vanderbilt, Black helped engineer one of the most dramatic defensive turnarounds in the country. The Commodores went from ranking near the bottom nationally to landing in the top half defensively-a rare feat, especially at a program not known for its football pedigree.
Even more impressive? He helped Vanderbilt notch double-digit wins for the first time in school history.
Black’s on-field impact is only part of the story. What really drew Whittingham to him was his ability to recruit.
At Vanderbilt, Black consistently landed players who, on paper, had no business choosing the Commodores over bigger-name programs. He sold development, culture, and belief-and it worked.
That’s the same edge Michigan is hoping to tap into as it looks to maintain its elite recruiting classes in a hyper-competitive Big Ten landscape.
There’s also a personal connection here. Black played his college ball at Indiana from 2009-2012 and has ties to Michigan through his brother, Jibreel, who suited up for the Wolverines earlier this decade. So there’s familiarity, but more importantly, there’s fit.
In the span of six days, Michigan went from chaos to clarity. Whittingham’s hire not only stabilized the program-it signaled that Michigan isn’t looking to rebuild. It’s looking to reload, and fast.
There’s a long road ahead, and plenty of challenges to navigate. But with Whittingham steering the ship and a staff built to compete at the highest level, the Wolverines are back on solid ground-and maybe, just maybe, ready to take the next step.