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The
University
of
Michigan's
Donald
R.
Shepherd
Director
of
Athletics
Warde
Manuel
announced
Friday
(Dec.
26) the
hiring
of Kyle
Whittingham
as the
22nd
head
football
coach in
the
146-year
history
of the
Michigan
program.
Whittingham
signed a
five-year
contract
with the
Wolverines
that
runs
through
the 2030
season. |
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Michigan
Turns to
Whittingham
Ahead of
Citrus
Bowl:
Veteran
coach
seeks
stability
after
Moore
scandal
Dusty
Schoenherr
- Sports
Tell Us
Detroit
News
ANN
ARBOR -
Michigan
has
hired
longtime
Utah
coach
Kyle
Whittingham
as its
new head
football
coach,
giving
the
Wolverines
a
veteran
leader
on a
five-year
deal
through
the 2030
season.
He
replaces
Sherrone
Moore,
who was
fired
for
cause
earlier
this
month
amid an
investigation
into an
inappropriate
relationship
with a
staff
member
and
subsequent
criminal
charges.
Hire
becomes
official
The
University
of
Michigan
announced
Whittingham’s
hiring
Friday,
naming
him the
22nd
head
coach in
the
146-year
history
of the
football
program.
Whittingham,
66,
agreed
to a
five-year
contract
that
runs
through
the 2030
season,
though
financial
terms
were not
immediately
disclosed.
Michigan
leadership
reacts
Athletic
director
Warde
Manuel
said
Whittingham
“consistently
exhibited
the
qualities
we
cherish
at
Michigan:
vision,
resilience,
and the
capability
to
construct
and
maintain
championship-level
teams.”
University
president
Domenico
Grasso
called
Whittingham
“precisely
the
right
choice
for the
University
of
Michigan
at this
juncture,”
citing
the need
for
stability
after
recent
turmoil
around
the
program.
Whittingham’s
message
and
track
record
In a
statement,
Whittingham
said
Michigan
is
“synonymous
with
tradition
and
excellence”
and
pledged
that the
program
will be
“committed
to
upholding
those
values
while
striving
for
greatness
together.”
Whittingham
leaves
Utah as
the
winningest
coach in
school
history
with 177
victories,
18
winning
seasons
and
eight
campaigns
of at
least 10
wins
over 21
years
leading
the
Utes.
Fallout
from
Moore’s
dismissal
Moore
was
terminated
on Dec.
10 after
an
internal
investigation
found
what the
university
described
as an
inappropriate
relationship
with a
staff
member.
Prosecutors
later
charged
Moore
with
felony
home
invasion
and two
misdemeanors
after he
allegedly
forced
his way
into the
woman’s
residence
and
threatened
to harm
himself,
with a
court
appearance
set for
January.
What’s
next for
Michigan
Whittingham
is
expected
to join
the
Wolverines
in
Orlando
ahead of
their
Citrus
Bowl
matchup
with
Texas,
as
Michigan
navigates
roster
uncertainty
and
transfer
portal
concerns
following
the
coaching
change.
The hire
is
viewed
by some
analysts
as both
an
upgrade
and a
potential
short-term
“bridge,”
giving
Michigan
an
experienced,
defense-first
coach
while
the
athletic
department
conducts
a
broader
review
following
multiple
investigations
tied to
recent
staff.
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