Freddie Whittingham - - Staff Directory - University of Michigan Athletics

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Freddie Whittingham

Freddie Whittingham is in his first year coaching Michigan's tight ends in 2026. He came to Ann Arbor following 14 seasons as a member of the Utah staff. For the last 10 seasons (2016-25) prior to his hiring at U-M, he coached the tight ends while also holding the title of recruiting coordinator.

Whittingham had an integral role in shaping the Utah roster for his entire tenure in Salt Lake City, beginning as Director of Player Personnel from 2012-15. In that role, he served as the program's NFL liaison, oversaw camps and clinics and played an important role in the program's recruiting efforts.

Whittingham coached five NFL tight ends at Utah, including two recent draft picks in Dalton Kincaid (first round, 2023, Buffalo Bills) and Caleb Lohner (seventh round, 2025, Denver Broncos).

Under Whittingham's direction, Utah’s tight ends were crucial to the offense’s success as they deployed frequent two- and three-tight end sets. The tight ends were key in helping the Utes lead their conference in rushing offense three times from 2019-25 and accounted for 67 total touchdowns during that timeframe.

Out of Utah's 18,120 passing yards from 2020-25, the program's tight ends accounted for 36 percent of the yardage (6,523 yards), with a tight end leading the team in receiving yards three times between 2019-25. A Utah tight end has caught at least one pass in 108 of the last 109 games under Whittingham’s leadership. In 2025, the tight ends accounted for 88 receptions for 1,153 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Brant Kuithe was a four-time all-conference performer under Whittingham, earning first-team All-Big 12 in 2024 and second-team All-Pac-12 three consecutive seasons (2019-21). He was also named to PFF’s All-American third team in 2019. Kincaid received first-team All-Pac 12 honors in 2022 after receiving honorable mention accolades the previous season.

Whittingham played running back at BYU and was team captain for his final season in 1989, when he was also named a first-team CoSIDA Academic All-American. A two-time All-Western Athletic Conference selection and BYU's Outstanding Senior Student-Athlete (1990), he played for the Los Angeles Rams in 1990 as a practice squad member before appearing in the World League of American Football with the San Antonio Riders in 1991.

Before transitioning into coaching by joining his brother's staff at Utah, Whittingham spent nearly 20 years with the McGraw-Hill companies and Simon & Schuster as a sales and marketing executive in the higher education publishing industry.

He has three children: Ashley, Sam and Rachel.

The Whittingham File
Hometown: Provo, Utah
High School: El Modena (California)
College: BYU (psychology, 1992)
Family: children Ashley, Sam, Rachel