It was not the “sexy” hire some Michigan fans were hoping for, but the University made the responsible decision by hiring former Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham. Whittingham enjoyed a lengthy stay at the University of Utah, where he started as the defensive line coach in 1995 and was eventually named head coach in 2004. Whittingham is widely regarded as a top 5 College Football coach and has a record of 177-88.
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 20: Michigan Wolverines helmets in the bench area during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium on November 20, 2021 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
Kyle Whittingham becomes the 22nd head coach in Michigan history, even though he is a defensive-minded coach. Utah’s offense was ranked No. 7 this past season. The naming of a new head coach ended Michigan’s nearly two-week search. The national media has gushed over the Whittingham hire, calling it a “home run.”
So, what does Whittingham bring to the Wolverines sidelines that makes him a solid fit for the football program? Defensively, Whittingham’s defenses are centered on tough, physical, aggressive man-to-man coverage. A trait that follows him from Salt Lake City to Ann Arbor is that Whittingham believes strongly in tough practices. Lining up 55% in man-to-man coverage suggests that strong defensive backs are both needed and counted on heavily. The defensive front plays a gap control built with big, quick defensive ends. Under Whittingham, Utah had been one of the best in the nation on third-down efficiency.
On the offensive side of the ball, Whittingham is a big believer in clock control, and his physical, run-first approach will bode well for a Michigan backfield littered with elite talent. A Whittingham trademark is elite offensive line play with a lot of physicality, effective gap schemes, with a dual threat quarterback. He is known for adapting schemes year to year based on player personnel. There is a fair amount of play action mixed in, which allows calculated shots downfield.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 02: Head coach Kyle Whittingham of the Utah Utes gets a Gatorade bath by Paul Maile #54 during the fourth quarter in the Pac-12 Championship against the USC Trojans at Allegiant Stadium on December 02, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
It has been said that Kyle Whittingham got more out of less. Recruiting at Utah is not like recruiting at Michigan, where he will have little issue attracting high-end talent. It is clear that Michigan wanted to shift out of the Jim Harbaugh era and have a total cleansing in order to return the football program to the nation’s elite. Whittingham’s teams produced in the postseason with a bowl record of 11-6, which ranks Whittingham among the top four active coaches.
The status of current AD Warde Manuel and the entire athletic department is still under investigation. It is possible that Manuel is relieved of his duties. That was never going to be an issue as far as finding and hiring a new head coach, as that fell on the Board of Regents and Alumni to decide.
Some will view the Whittingham hiring as safe, others will view it as underwhelming. For a football program that has had missteps in recent years, the Whittingham hire is a very good choice.
