Michigan hires Kyle Whittingham in a stunning deal after Sherrone Moore’s arrest and charges, his salary will shock you

In one of the most consequential coaching hires in recent college football history, the University of Michigan is poised to pay former Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham an average of $8.2 million per year, according to multiple reports, in a deal designed to stabilize a Wolverines program shaken by scandal and leadership upheaval.

According to USA Today, Michigan and Whittingham are finalizing a five‑year contract that carries an average annual value (AAV) of $8.2 million and is reported to be 75 percent guaranteed, sources say. The 66‑year‑old Whittingham, whose 22 seasons at Utah made him one of the most enduring figures in this sport, is expected to earn $8 million in salary in 2026 alone under the terms of the agreement, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

The compensation figures represent a significant financial elevation from Whittingham’s final season at Utah. USA TODAY’s coaching salary database lists his 2025 salary at $6.925 million, a mark that ranked him 33rd among public university coaches nationwide.


By contrast, the projected 2026 wage would rank 21st nationally among public‑institution coaches and eighth among Big Ten peers.

It is a striking monetary commitment by a university seeking not just success on the field, but reputational repair off it.

Michigan’s formal search to replace Sherrone Moore, who was fired Dec. 10 amid explosive allegations of an inappropriate relationship and arrested the same day, was intensely covered by the national sports media. Moore was officially charged Dec. 12 with home invasion, stalking and breaking.

Whittingham arrives with a résumé unmarred by off‑field controversy. In contrast to the turbulence surrounding both Moore and his predecessor, Jim Harbaugh, Whittingham’s long career has been viewed as steady and scandal‑free, a profile Michigan officials clearly valued in their next leader.

Born Nov. 21, 1959, Whittingham will be 71 years old at the conclusion of his five‑year deal, assuming he remains at Michigan for the contract’s full duration.