Michigan is finalizing a deal with Utah coach Kyle Whittingham to be its next head football coach, a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed to the Detroit Free Press. The person told the Free Press on condition of anonymity because the hiring is not official.
The expected move caps a relatively quick search that began after former coach Sherrone Moore was fired with cause earlier this month.
After 21 years leading Utah, Whittingham announced Dec. 12 he was stepping down as Utes coach after the Dec. 31 Las Vegas Bowl.
Whittingham, 66, told reporters Dec. 18 he wasn't retiring and he's "in the transfer portal."
He has gone 177-88 in his two decades in Salt Lake City after taking over the job after Urban Meyer left for Florida. A Brigham Young grad, Whittingham has spent his entire career coaching out West beyond the Continental Divide but would be a capable pair of hands to guide the Michigan program out of this mess.
