Michigan hires Kyle Whittingham as new head coach in tier two category
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 18, 2026, 7:41 PM
Last updated Aug 18, 2026

Kyle Whittingham takes over as Michigan's head coach amid high expectations. The Athletic ranks him as a 'tier two' coach, citing his established success at Utah, including three top-15 finishes and two Pac-12 titles. Though he lacks a College Football Playoff appearance, Whittingham's experience and track record suggest he could stabilize Michigan’s program. Expected challenges include navigating a difficult schedule, where he will need to secure unexpected victories to meet the program's high standards.
- •Whittingham previously led Utah for 21 years.
- •He holds three top-15 finishes and two Pac-12 championships.
- •His contract at Michigan spans five years.
- •There's skepticism about the long-term implications of his hiring.
- •The Wolverines face a difficult schedule this season.
- 7:41 PMYahoo Sports — The Athletic places Michigan's Kyle Whittingham as 'tier two' coach
"Kyle Whittingham takes over at Michigan with high expectations as experts debate if he is a long term solution.
Sources
External linksOriginal reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days
NCAAF•Aug 18, 2026, 8:27 PMWhere Jon Sumrall lands in The Athletic’s latest FBS coach rankings
NCAAF•Aug 18, 2026, 8:07 PMCause of Death Revealed for Former College Football Player Jack Pugh, 24, Who Quit for His Mental Health
NCAAF•Aug 18, 2026, 8:06 PMCollege Football Coaches on the Hot Seat
NCAAF•Aug 18, 2026, 7:49 PMTrevor Goosby injury update: MRI reveals Texas OT has bone bruise
NCAAF•Aug 18, 2026, 7:33 PMKirk Herbstreit believes the Big Ten has surpassed the SEC
NCAAF•Aug 18, 2026, 7:22 PMWhy Alabama, Indiana and Texas Tech (yes, really) didn't make college football's top spending list
