Kyle Whittingham, formerly the head coach of the Utah Utes, has stepped into a whole new world as the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines. On a recent episode of The Joel Klatt Show, Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt ranked Whittingham as the seventh-best coach in college football—a pick that’s stirred up some chatter, though Klatt stands by it.
Whittingham’s track record at Utah is hard to ignore. He took the team from Group of Five status to a regular Power Five threat, and now he’s bringing that experience to Ann Arbor, hoping to push Michigan even further.
Kyle Whittingham’s Journey: From Utah to Michigan
Whittingham’s time at Utah really says a lot about his knack for building a solid program. When he took over in Salt Lake City, Urban Meyer had already set things in motion, but Whittingham took that foundation and made it stick.
He managed Utah’s leap from the Group of Five to the Pac-12, and then on to the Big 12. Even without the flashiest recruits, his teams kept overachieving. That’s impressive, right?
Building a Culture of Excellence
What jumps out about Whittingham’s coaching is the culture he creates. His teams are tough, disciplined, and just plain solid—no shortcuts, just gritty football.
That culture didn’t just stay at Utah, either. Coaches like Kalani Sitake at BYU took those lessons and ran with them in their own programs.
Joel Klatt’s Top 10 Coaches in College Football
In Klatt’s latest ranking, Whittingham landed at number seven. That’s a pretty big nod, considering the company—coaches like Ryan Day at Ohio State and Dan Lanning at Oregon are also on the list.
At the top? Curt Cignetti, who just led Indiana to a national title. Whittingham’s inclusion here really spotlights what he’s managed to do, especially without always pulling in five-star recruits.
Why Whittingham Stands Out
Klatt points out that Whittingham’s real magic is building winners without blue-chip talent. In college football, that’s not something you see every day.
His teams are always well-coached and tough, and they tend to outplay their recruiting rankings. It’s that ability to get the most out of what he’s got that puts Whittingham in the sport’s upper tier.
The Challenge Ahead: Michigan Wolverines
Now, Whittingham’s got a new mountain to climb at Michigan. This isn’t some fixer-upper—Michigan’s already a powerhouse, with fans who expect nothing less than greatness.
They’ve tasted big wins and playoff runs under Jim Harbaugh. Whittingham’s job is to keep that going and, hopefully, push it even further.
Stepping into a Competitive Environment
The Big Ten is absolutely stacked with coaching talent right now. With guys like Ryan Day and Dan Lanning in the mix, there’s no room for coasting.
But honestly, if his Utah run is any clue, Whittingham kind of relishes these uphill battles. He’s proven he can build strong programs through all kinds of transitions, even without those headline-grabbing recruiting classes. So, can he do it again at Michigan? I guess we’ll find out soon enough.
Conclusion: A Proven Builder
Kyle Whittingham heading to Michigan—now that’s something I didn’t see coming. It’s easily one of the more fascinating coaching moves we’ve seen in a while.
Look, his time at Utah says a lot. He managed to build a program that survived all sorts of changes, which isn’t exactly easy in college football.
He’s got the kind of background Michigan fans have probably been hoping for. With all the resources and tradition in Ann Arbor, you can’t help but wonder what heights he might reach.
Joel Klatt’s ranking pretty much sums it up. Michigan didn’t just land another coach; they grabbed one of the top names out there.
If you want to dig deeper into Klatt’s take on Whittingham, check out the full article on Cleveland.com.
- Schools Covered
- College Football Articles
- Men's College Basketball Articles
- Men's College Soccer Articles
- Women's College Basketball Articles
- Olympic Athlete Articles
- Men's College Baseball Articles
- College Sports Media Professionals Articles
- Hall of Fame Member Articles
- Former College Player Articles
- Game Previews
