Before Kyle Whittingham received the call inviting him to Ann Arbor, he was close to calling it quits. However, the Michigan Wolverines’ legendary rivalry with Ohio State changed his mind.

“I would watch the Michigan/Ohio State game every year. I already had an affinity for the university. I can confidently say that there was nobody in my close circle who had any other thoughts but, 'hey, let’s go',” he told Rick Pizzo. 

During the Spring Coaches Meeting, he spoke about his coaching tenure at Michigan, his expectations for the season, and more. Whittingham, a family man with over 11 grandkids, talked about how content he was and that it was his wife, Jamie, who had a hand in persuading him.

“There wasn’t anyone in the camp was saying, ‘hey, no, let’s ride off into the sunset,’ particularly my wife. She saw this is a great opportunity. I had followed Michigan’s sense I was an eight-year-old kid down in California,” he said in the June 15 interview with Big 10.

Whittingham was born in California but grew up in Utah. His father, Fred, took a coaching career there after his playing days in the NFL. Despite the distance between Whittingham and Michigan, the program’s rivalry with Ohio lingered. 

He took over as their 22nd coach in December 2025. He signed a five-year deal, averaging $8.2 million per season, per ESPN. Whittingham has taken charge after an anti-climactic end to a tumultuous season with former head coach Sherone Moore. 

For Whittingham, the stakes are high this season, especially concerning the Ohio State Buckeyes. In 2025, the Buckeyes broke their four-game losing streak by defeating the Wolverines.

As if the 27-9 loss wasn’t humiliating enough, it happened in the Big House. The Buckeyes secured an undefeated 12-0 regular season last year.

Michigan, on the other hand, went 9-4. Whittingham is up for a challenge in his first season with the Wolverines. Yet, a former player has full faith in him.

Derrick Moore shares his views on Kyle Whittingham

66-year-old Whittingham spent over two decades at the Utah Utes. As he begins a new chapter of his career at Michigan, there are many questions about how this season will pan out. Derrick Moore certainly has faith in him.

“He definitely is (fitting in),” the Detroit Lions defensive end said. “I can see every time he’s just around Ann Arbor enjoying himself. That’s what I like to see.” 

The 2023 national champion was in conversation with reporters after practice earlier this month. M Live reported that Moore was discussing his alma mater, which remains close to his heart. He shared what his conversation with Whittingham was about. 

“We just talked about the crazy season we had last year, and then he just pretty much talked about the goals that he had for the season coming up. It was just a great conversation,” the 23-year-old said.

This season’s Michigan-Ohio State face-off is a much-anticipated game. Can the Wolverines rise past their defeat from last season under Whittingham? What are your thoughts?

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Written by

Akanksha Biradar