Kyle Whittingham I won’t wait until after Utah football appearance at the Las Vegas Bowl to begin the next chapter of his coaching career at Michigan.
According to multiple reports, Whittingham is expected to join the Wolverines in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, December 27 for their preparations to play Texas in the Citrus Bowl. He is expected to inform his current players of his decision on Friday, December 26 once Utes land in Las Vegas.
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Whittingham agreed to a five-year contract with the Wolverinesaccording to Tony Garcia of the Detroit Free Press – part of the USA TODAY network – to be the successor to Sherrone Moore in Ann Arbor. This is just Whittingham’s second stop in his head coaching career, as he spent 22 seasons at the helm of the Utes program.
MANDATORY READING: Michigan football finalizes deal to hire Utah’s Kyle Whittingham as coach
The Las Vegas Bowl was originally scheduled to be Whittingham’s final game at Utah, as he announced Friday December 12 that he was withdrawing. He then clarified his decision to journalists on Thursday, December 18: he was not retiring and was instead “in the transfer portal.”
Whittingham is only the second Michigan head coach without a tie with the program since Bo Schembechler retired in 1990. He brings a 177-88 overall record as head coach of the Wolverines.
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At Michigan, Whittingham will now be tasked with leading the program after numerous offseason scandals over the past few seasons, including the firing and subsequent arrest of Moore. The Wolverines announced Wednesday, Dec. 10 that Moore was terminated for cause after a university investigation revealed “credible evidence” of his inappropriate relationship with a staff member.
What’s more pressing for Michigan right now will be Whittingham’s ability to retain the talent on the Wolverines’ current roster, including freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood. Players have five days after hiring a football coach to enter their name into the NCAA transfer portal.
Interim head coach Biff Poggi still expected to lead Michigan in the Citrus Bowl. Morgan Scalley, who was previously announced as Whittingham’s successor at Utah, is expected to coach the Utes in the Las Vegas Bowl.
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This article was originally published on USA TODAY: Kyle Whittingham will join Michigan and will not coach Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl
