Did Kyle Whittingham retire? Michigan target explains move from Utah
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Michigan football fans might be surprised to hear that ex-Utah coach Kyle Whittingham is even available to be hired.
According to a report on Friday, Dec. 26, Michigan football is targeting Whittingham to be the Wolverines‘ next football coach. Whittingham stepped down from Utah on Dec. 12 after guiding the Utes to a 10-2 record but finishing third in the Big 12 standings, behind CFP contender Texas Tech and rival BYU.
Whittingham had spent 21 full seasons leading the Utes (2005-25) and became the winningest coach in program history (177-88). He has also held various assistant coach and coordinator positions at Utah since 1994, accumulating over 30 years of time with the program. His accomplishments include a 13-0 season in 2008, back-to-back Pac-12 titles in 2021-22 and two top-10 finishes.
Did Kyle Whittingham retire?
By any measure, Whittingham is the greatest coach in the history of the accomplished program.
So Whittingham stepping down at 66 years old was a retirement announcement, right? Not quite, according to the man himself.
“I’m stepping down, step away and reevaluate things. … I’m a free agent, I’m in the transfer portal,” he said when announcing his decision. “It’s a different feel, but I’m at peace. And I did not want to be that guy who overstayed his welcome with people saying, ‘Hey, when’s this guy gonna leave?’ That was not my intention – ever. I hope I didn’t do that. I’m sure with some people I did do that. To me, the timing was right.”
Even though Whittingham has never said it out loud, many college football experts believe that Utah pushed Whittingham towards resigning to avoid firing the longtime coach – now or down the line. After back-to-back 10-win seasons in 2021 and 2022, Whittingham led the Utes to an 8-5 season in 2023 and a 5-7 season in 2024 as Utah transitioned from the Pac-12 to the Big 12. And though his 10-2 season in 2025 may have shown a return to prominence, it may not have been good enough for a Utah team that now has championship aspirations.
Whittingham’s hiring has not been announced yet and is not official. But if he is the guy, U-M football is clearly looking to get right back to winning now with a coach who won’t have time to wait.
Kyle Whittingham age
He is 66.
Despite rumors that Whittingham was going to retire after the 2025 season, he left his options open and said he was in the transfer portal when asked if his resignation was a retirement.
“Who knows?” he said to media in Salt Lake City.
Whittingham was the fourth-oldest active coach this past season, according to USA TODAY, behind North Carolina’s Bill Belichick, Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz and Temple’s K.C. Keeler.
But age can be just a number. Just ask Indiana, where 64-year-old Curt Cignetti has completely revived their program and has the Hoosiers as the No. 1 team in the College Football Playoff.
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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Did Kyle Whittingham retire? Michigan target explains move from Utah
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