This year’s college football coaching carousel has been one of the wildest in recent memory. High-profile programs made sweeping changes, parting ways with big-name coaches after disappointing seasons. Penn State moved on from James Franklin, Virginia Tech had a sudden opening, and Auburn fired Hugh Freeze. The Florida Gators ended the Billy Napier era, while UCLA cut ties with DeShaun Foster after a rough 18 months in Los Angeles. LSU dismissed Brian Kelly, who failed to meet the lofty expectations of the Tigers program. The list goes on—Ole Miss, Michigan State, Kentucky, Cal, Arkansas, Stanford, and Oklahoma State all found themselves in the market for new leadership.

And then there’s Michigan. The Wolverines didn’t just make a coaching change—they made headlines. Following the dramatic fallout surrounding Sherrone Moore, Michigan pulled off a stunning hire by bringing in Kyle Whittingham from Utah. While other programs made solid additions—LSU lured Lane Kiffin from Mississippi, Virginia Tech secured James Franklin, UCLA landed Bob Chesney from James Madison, Penn State grabbed Matt Campbell, and Florida took Jon Sumrall from Tulane—none of these moves compare to what Michigan accomplished.

Whittingham has long been one of the most underrated coaches in college football. Utah isn’t a traditional powerhouse, nor does it have the financial resources of blue-blood programs. Yet, under Whittingham’s leadership, the Utes consistently competed at a high level. From 2014 to 2022, Utah finished in the top 25 of the final AP Poll in six of nine seasons, including a 12th-place finish in 2021 and 10th in 2022. This past season, the Utes went 10-2, with their only losses coming against playoff-bound Texas Tech and a top-12 BYU team.

The consistency Whittingham achieved at Utah is remarkable, especially when compared to programs with far greater advantages. Take Florida, for example. Since 2014, the Gators have finished in the top 25 just five times, despite their recruiting prowess and financial backing. Auburn, another SEC powerhouse, has been ranked at season’s end only four times in the same span. Meanwhile, Utah has spent 46 weeks in the AP Top 25 since the start of the 2022 season—far outpacing Auburn’s mere two weeks.

Whittingham’s ability to elevate Utah into a program that can compete with—and often beat—bigger, wealthier schools is exactly what Michigan needs. The Utes defeated a strong USC team twice in 2022 (though one win came after Caleb Williams’ injury), won the Pac-12 Championship, and nearly secured a Rose Bowl victory against a formidable Penn State squad. In today’s expanded playoff era, that’s the kind of performance that earns a spot in the postseason.

Now, imagine what Whittingham can do with Michigan’s resources. The Wolverines have a massive fanbase, a historic stadium, strong NIL support, and elite recruiting opportunities—everything Utah lacked. At 66, Whittingham isn’t the flashy, up-and-coming hire some programs chase, but he brings stability and a proven track record. Unlike younger coaches who might jump ship for a bigger payday, Whittingham is likely to stay put, giving Michigan a chance to build sustained success without the off-field drama that plagued previous regimes.

And if that wasn’t enough, Whittingham’s personal conduct seems to align perfectly with Michigan’s current needs. As one observant Reddit user pointed out, he follows only two women on Instagram—his wife and daughter—and hasn’t posted in a decade. In an era where off-field behavior can derail a program, that kind of low-key, drama-free approach is a refreshing change.

Michigan didn’t just make a good hire—they made the best hire of the coaching carousel. With Whittingham at the helm, the Wolverines have a real shot at becoming a consistent national contender. And given his history of overachieving with limited resources, the future in Ann Arbor looks brighter than ever.

Source: Outkick.com