Sports

Michigan Football Program Expected To Hire New Head Coach Who Had Already Planned His Retirement

#College Football
by
Kyle Whittingham

© Kirby Lee/Imagn


After 31 years with the Utah Utes football program, it appeared as if Kyle Whittingham was happy to retire and walk off into the sunset.

Now, it appears that may no longer be the case.

Just 18 months ago, the Utes named defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley their “coach in waiting” as Whittingham, then 64, prepared to enter his 19th season as the team’s head coach after taking over from Urban Meyer in 2005.

Whittingham has immense success with the Utes, including an undefeated season in 2008 that saw them end the year No. 2 in the AP Bowl. He won a Fiesta Bowl, a Sugar Bowl, and made a pair of Rose Bowl appearances.

Even this past season, the Utes went 10-2 in the Big 12 and narrowly missed out on the playoffs. But after the season, Utah announced that Whittingham was stepping down and Scalley would become the head coach beginning with the Las Vegas Bowl on New Year’s Eve.

Most presumed that this meant Whittingham intended to retire…

However…

Michigan Wolverines Expected To Name Kyle Whittingham New Head Coach

After seemingly striking out on both Kalen DeBoer and Kenny Dillingham, the Michigan Wolverines had turned their tumultuous coaching search in a different direction in recent days.

Several sources indicated that the Wolverines were targeting Louisville coach Jeff Brohm, but he seems set to stay put. Meanwhile, former Georgia and current Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken also drew interest.

But on Friday morning, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Michigan had zeroed in on Whittingham as the focus of its search.

That news didn’t sit well with Wolverines fans, who called the move a self-imposed death penalty and the “worst hire” they have ever seen.

Despite the pessimism, there are plenty of reasons to believe Whittingham is a smart hire.

For one, Michigan was short on options. It is trying to hire a new head coach at a time where strong candidates just aren’t abundant. Additionally, Whittingham likely comes at a discount compared to someone like Brohm or, at least, on a shorter contract with a less prohibitive buyout.

We already know he’s a good head football coach, with a 177-88 career record to prove it. He’ll likely keep the Wolverines’ coaching staff, and thus its roster, in place. And, perhaps most importantly, Whittingham’s age likely allows Michigan to plan for the future and a full-scale coaching search in the near future.

All that being said, it’s still pretty wild to see Michigan in a position where it’s seemingly set to hire a head coach who had already planned his own retirement.