Michigan coaching rumors tracker: Wolverines hire Kyle Whittingham after Sherrone Moore's firing

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Michigan coaching rumors tracker: Wolverines hire Kyle Whittingham after Sherrone Moore's firing

Michigan coaching rumors tracker: Wolverines hire Kyle Whittingham after Sherrone Moore's firing originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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It was a rare late opening in the college football schedule, but arguably one of the best head coaching positions in the country shockingly became available in mid-December.

The Michigan Wolverines fired Sherrone Moore, who had replaced Jim Harbaugh following the program's national title in 2023, for cause due to a scandal involving his alleged "inappropriate relationship" with a staffer. Moore was then arrested on the evening of Dec. 10 as part of an investigation into a alleged assault. 

After one of the most recognizable brands in college football and a Big Ten powerhouse had an available head coaching job — but the job opening in December, with the coaching carousel already nearly complete, threw a wrench into the Wolverines' process. 

Here were the rumors from Michigan's coaching search that ended with a well-known college football name.

MORE: Everything to know about Sherrone Moore scandal, following arrest

Michigan coaching rumors tracker

Michigan, Kyle Whittingham agree to 5-year deal

Michigan has agreed to a five-year deal to hire Kyle Whittingham as its head football coach, Pete Thamel reports. The 66-year-old Whittingham went 177-88 over 21 seasons as Utah's head coach before stepping down on Dec. 12. 

Michigan closing in on deal with Kyle Whittingham

Michigan's search is now focused on former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham, with a deal expected to be finalized at some point on Friday, according to multiple reports. 

Whittingham, who stepped down as Utah's head coach after 21 seasons on Dec. 12, went 177-88 with the Utes, winning a pair of Pac-12 titles and two Mountain West titles. 

Michigan has vetted Louisville HC Jeff Brohm

The college football coaching carousel never sleeps, not even on Christmas Eve. The outlets reports that "events are accelerating," as Michigan has vetted Jeff Brohm as its head coach. It adds that Brohm was expected to spent 24 to 48 hours in Florida after the Cardinals' bowl game in Boca Raton, and that UM officials are expected to have more conversations with the head coach.  

Louisville HC Jeff Brohm emerges as "name of interest" in Michigan search

On Tuesday morning, Nakos reported that Louisville's Jeff Brohm has become a major name of interest in Michigan's head coaching search.

This development comes after two of Michigan's reported top targets, Alabama's Kalen DeBoer and Arizona State's Kenny Dillingham, appeared to be removed from consideration over the weekend. Dillingham signed an extension with Arizona State and DeBoer is still in the College Football Playoff with Alabama.

Michigan AD Warde Manuel hopes to have coach hired over next couple of weeks

According to Garcia, Michigan interim head coach Biff Poggi says that Manuel told the team he hopes to have a coach in place sometime between Christmas on Dec. 25 and Michigan's bowl game on Dec. 31. While this sounds a bit like wishful thinking, that would put the Wolverines hiring a new head coach over the next couple of weeks.  

Michigan OC Chip Lindsey leaving for Missouri

While the future of Michigan's entire coaching staff is in flux, one key assistant won't be returning. Offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey has accepted the same job at Missouri under coach Eli Drinkwitz, ESPN's Pete Thamel reports, agreeing to a three-year deal.

Michigan coaching search not expected "to be resolved any time soon."

ESPN's Dan Wetzel reported on Saturday night that based on everything he's heard, " I wouldn’t expect the Michigan coaching search to be resolved any time soon."

Kalen DeBoer, one of the hottest candidates, won with Alabama to extend the season to at least New Year's Day; Kenny Dillingham, who was also rumored to be on Michigan's tracker, agreed to an extension with Arizona State earlier in the day.

Dillingham says he was never offered Michigan job

  • Date: Dec. 20
  • Source: On3

Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham, who agreed to an extension on Saturday, said he was never offered the Michigan job. 

"None of that ever, ever happened, and it never got to that point. Michigan’s an unbelievable job with unlimited resources, with people who will do whatever they can to make it successful, who want to see it succeed," Dillingham said, per On3. "Somebody’s going to get an unbelievable opportunity … to take over one of the best programs in the country, who are resourced as one of the best programs in the country with one of the best rosters in the country."

Backup candidates to DeBoer include Eli Drinkwitz, Jedd Fisch

In his Friday ESPN appearance, Thamel also reported that while DeBoer is considered the top candidate for Michigan, other names to watch include Missouri's Eli Drinkwitz and Washington's Jedd Fisch. He also mentioned ASU coach Kenny Dillingham, but he then received an extension announced on Dec. 20.

“Michigan officials aren’t solely focused on DeBoer. I’ve been told by sources that they’ve had a handful of exploratory conversations with different candidates this week,” Thamel said, per On3. “The hiring pool, if it’s not DeBoer, sources have told me, would involve Kenny Dillingham of Arizona State, Eli Drinkwitz of Missouri and Washington’s Jedd Fisch. The timing could be tricky. Two of those coaches – Dillingham and Drinkwitz – have post Christmas bowls.”

Kalen DeBoer remains top Michigan target, but Alabama CFP loss would have made his hiring more 'tenable'

Prior to Alabama's CFP matchup against Oklahoma on Friday night, ESPN's Pete Thamel reported that sources had told him "Michigan officials remain convicted" that they want to make a run at Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer, who has insisted he will be coaching in Tuscaloosa next season.

However, Thamel noted that an Alabama first-round CFP loss would have made those logistics much more realistic — and afterward, the Crimson Tide defeated the Sooners 34-24 to move onto the quarterfinals. 

Even before his CFP win, DeBoer said he feels "completely supported" at Alabama and that he hasn't talked with any other teams about coaching when asked about the Michigan opening. He also released a statement about his commitment to Alabama.

Kenny Dillingham signs new Arizona State extension with Michigan rumors

Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham has received a new contract with the Sun Devils worth an average of $7.5 million over the course of the deal, per Thamel. 

The extension takes Dillingham out of the pool of candidates for Michigan's opening, as he had been a rumored candidate previously.

Utah's Kyle Whittingham has 'expressed interest' in Wolverines' job

Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham, who will depart from the Utes after coaching in the Las Vegas Bowl, has previously said he wants to continue coaching and considers himself "in the transfer portal.

Whittingham has expressed interest in Michigan's opening, per the Detroit Free Press.

Michigan has interest in Browns OC Tommy Rees

The Wolverines have shown interest in Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees for their head coaching job, per Cleveland.com. Rees was formerly the offensive coordinator at Notre Dame and Alabama, and he was promoted to the Browns' OC for the 2025 season.

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