Whittingham gives Michigan the adult it needs
It didn't officially come on Dec. 25, but Michigan fans got a late Christmas present in the form of a future Hall-of-Fame coach.
The Wolverines hired Utah legend Kyle Whittingham as the program's new head coach on Friday, with the school announcing the addition of the 66-year-old on a five-year contract.
Whittingham's hire makes it 31 FBS jobs changing hands in a coaching carousel that opened in September and took more spins than a "Wheel of Fortune" marathon.
Even though Michigan's move came under extremely challenging circumstances at a very awkward time, the Wolverines somehow leave the cycle with perhaps the best hire of the list.
Who Whittingham brings with him to fill out his staff will be crucial, of course. But make no mistake, the veteran coach is a major upgrade from whatever setup Sherrone Moore was running before his shocking ouster at the start of December for an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.
Whittingham's resume represents an incredible run with one of the steadiest programs in history. Since taking over at Utah for Urban Meyer in 2005, the hard-nosed coach went a sparkling 177-88 with eight different 10-win seasons - including the current campaign.
As impressive as the facts and statistics are, Whittingham's best attribute for Michigan might be who he is, not what he is. He's a damn good football coach, but it's been a long time since a program just needed an adult in the room to come in and clean up a mess. You'd be hard-pressed to find anyone in college football who fits that description better than Whittingham.
Netflix's documentary crew could take up permanent residence in Ann Arbor with the amount of material the Wolverines' football program has provided in recent years. Jim Harbaugh's teams reached a mountain top many didn't think was possible, but the lasting image of his tenure is as much scandal as champion for any non-Michigan supporter.
After Harbaugh bolted for the NFL, Moore's appointment didn't exactly calm the waters. It was just four months ago that the NCAA finally handed down suspensions and show-cause penalties in the wake of the sign-stealing scandal.
The on-field performance certainly dipped after Harbaugh's departure, and recent reports from The Athletic and the Detroit Free Press suggest Moore wasn't even equipped to run a Madden team on franchise mode, let alone one of college football's behemoths.
Whittingham immediately changes that, bringing a sterling reputation to Ann Arbor. His lengthy career has been virtually free of scandal, and his Utes are fresh off a 10-win season in which their only losses came against two teams inside the top 15 of the CFP. Perhaps the most "damning" thing in his Utah tenure was his inability to provide a clear timeline on when he planned to retire.
OK, the grown-up is now in the room. So what does his addition mean on the field?
His program has long been built on elite defense, toughness, and an often devastating rushing attack. Sound familiar, Michigan fans?
Whittingham's teams have annually garnered national respect for how hard they compete on defense each and every game. Morgan Scalley taking over as Utah head coach means Whittingham will have a new voice at the defensive coordinator position with the Wolverines, but his extensive background on that side of the ball should calm any concerns.
It's the offensive side of things where the Whittingham hire should excite fans the most, especially if Jason Beck is joining him.
Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports reported Friday that Whittingham will attempt to bring the Utah offensive coordinator with him to Michigan. That should be priority No. 1 - a hire that would have students singing "Mr. Brightside" in the streets. Beck's first season with the Utes was a masterclass. He immediately fixed an ailing offense, with Utah leading the country in yards per rush and finishing 5th nationally in scoring under his guidance.
Beck accomplished this with Devon Dampier at quarterback, a fine player at New Mexico who shined after making the jump to the power conference level. However, Beck getting someone with the talent level of Bryce Underwood at the controls would be like putting Lewis Hamilton at your local go-kart track.
Underwood can expect to get real close with Whittingham in the coming days, as the new coach will surely work to retain as many key players as possible. One has to think that a Beck hire would keep most of the offense in tact.
Some may raise questions about Whittingham's age - he's the third-oldest coach at the FBS level. However, he certainly comes across as a very youthful 66, and, for reference, he's only two years older than the head coach of the nation's top team, Curt Cignetti.
The most apt question to be asking surrounds Whittingham's recruiting chops. He returned solid, if unspectacular, classes to Utah annually. But with the resources and prestige Michigan offers, it would be expected that the Wolverines will remain a top destination.
Since Moore was fired on Dec. 8, Michigan fans have heard an almost endless list of candidates trotted out as possible options. Kalen DeBoer, Jedd Fisch, Kenny Dillingham, Jesse Minter, John Harbaugh, Jeff Brohm, and a host of others were all mentioned at one time or another. Some were part of more serious discussions, while others were simply floated in passing.
In the end, the Wolverines opted for the adult in the room to get everything back in order. Don't be shocked if Whittingham quickly leads the Wolverines back into playoff contention - scandal free.