Staff Directory
- Title:
- J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Head Football Coach
Kyle Whittingham was named the J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family head coach of the University of Michigan football program on December 26, 2025. The 22nd head coach in U-M history, 2026 is Whittingham's first season leading U-M.
Whittingham arrived in Ann Arbor following 21 seasons as Utah's head coach and 32 years overall with the Utes. He spent 11 seasons as an assistant coach with the program before being elevated to head coach in 2004. With an all-time record of 177-88 leading the Utah program, Whittingham was the second-longest FBS tenured head coach and the third-winningest FBS coach upon his hiring. He led the Utes to winning records in 18 of 21 seasons and won 10-plus games eight times (2008-10, '15, '19, '21-22, '25).
Whittingham led Utah to three conference championships, including an undefeated 2008 season capped by a Sugar Bowl win over Alabama. He earned three national Coach of the Year awards, including the AFCA and Bear Bryant Awards in 2008 and the Bobby Dodd Trophy in 2019.
In the postseason, Whittingham's Utah teams compiled an 11-6 record, including a 2-2 mark in New Year's Six bowl games with wins over Pittsburgh (2005 Fiesta Bowl) and Alabama (2009 Sugar Bowl). The Utes reached 11 different bowl destinations during his tenure, including two Rose Bowls.
Under Whittingham, 35 different players earned All-America selection, including 17 players recognized by major award associations and 10 individuals who were named consensus or unanimous honorees. Players received 105 first-team all-conference honors, including 60 in 15 seasons of Power Conference football. Eight times, a Ute was named conference player of the year. Off the field, six players earned Academic All-America honors and 400 academic all-conference accolades.
Whittingham's development helped the Utes see 31 players selected in the NFL draft from 2017-25, the most among Big 12 schools.
Across his Utah tenure, Whittingham coached in 391 games during his 32 seasons, contributing to a program-record 262 wins. Whittingham joined the staff as defensive line coach in 1994 and was promoted to defensive coordinator starting with the 1995 season. He spent the next 10 years running the defense, coaching the linebackers or safeties rooms all the while.
Whittingham was a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater, Brigham Young, during the 1985-86 seasons. He spent the 1987 season as the defensive coordinator at the College of Eastern Utah. He joined Idaho State program for six seasons (1988-93), mentoring the linebackers and serving as the special teams coordinator for four seasons before taking over as defensive coordinator for his final two seasons.
Whittingham is a 1984 graduate of BYU and earned a master's degree from the school in 1987. He played linebacker for the Cougars from 1978-81, earning first-team All-WAC and WAC Defensive Player of the Year accolades in 1981. Whittingham played in the first four Holiday Bowls and was named Defensive MVP of the 1991 game. In 2009, he was inducted into the Holiday Bowl Hall of Fame.
He earned NFL opportunities with the Denver Broncos (1982) and Los Angeles Rams (1987), and also played in the USFL (Denver Gold, New Orleans Breakers) and CFL (Calgary Stampeders) before transitioning into coaching.
Whittingham and his wife, the former Jamie Daniels, have four children: Tyler, Melissa, Alex and Kylie, and 11 grandchildren. Both Tyler (2009-11) and Alex (2013-17) played for Utah.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
| Year | Team | Position |
| 1985-86 | BYU | Graduate Assistant |
| 1987 | College of Eastern Utah | Defensive Coordinator |
| 1988-91 | Idaho State | Linebackers, Special Teams |
| 1992-93 | Defensive Coordinator | |
| 1994 | Utah | Defensive Line |
| 1995-96 | Defensive Coordinator, Safeties | |
| 1997 | Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers | |
| 1998-2000 | Defensive Coordinator, Safeties | |
| 2001-04 | Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers | |
| 2005-25 | Head Coach | |
| 2025-present | Michigan | Head Coach |
The Whittingham File
High School: Provo
College: BYU (1984; 1987, master's)
Family: Jamie née Daniels; sons Tyler and Alex, daughters Melissa and Kylie; 11 grandchildren
