It’s a hire made by Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel, who has the seal of approval from current interim coach Biff Poggi. Although the university has not officially announced Whittingham’s hiring as of this writing, the Detroit Free Press has confirmed ESPN’s report that it is a five-year deal for the 66-year-old coach, which will reportedly pay him an average of $8.2 million per year.
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REQUIRED READING: Michigan has a five-year contract with Utah’s Kyle Whittingham to be the next coach
“Michigan football is in BIG hands under Kyle Whittingham…” Poggi wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, December 26. “Proven winner, true gentleman, tough old Michigan coach. Great hiring of Warde Manuel. Kids will love him. Exciting days ahead for Michigan.”
“We have work to do over the next five days. Texas is great. GoBlue.”
Poggi is expected to serve as interim head coach for Michigan’s Citrus Bowl matchup against Texas at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida. The Wolverines announced they landed in Orlando at 8:44 p.m. ET on social media, more than an hour after Poggi commented on Whittingham.
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According to multiple reports, Whittingham is expected to join the Wolverines on Saturday, December 27 in Orlando for bowl prep. With Whittingham’s expected arrival on Saturday, it appears the veteran Utah coach will not coach the Utes in the Las Vegas Bowl on Wednesday, December 31.
He was expected to resign after the Las Vegas Bowl after 22 seasons in Salt Lake City. But he later clarified on Thursday, December 18, that he was not retiring and was “in the transfer portal.”
The Citrus Bowl will be the third game this season in which Poggi will serve as interim head coach. He led the team in Weeks 3 and 4 during Moore’s two-game suspension for his role in the Connor Stalions sign-stealing scandal. Poggi, a veteran high school coach, is in his second stint as associate head coach at Michigan.
REQUIRED READING: Kyle Whittingham is the perfect solution to all of Michigan football’s problems
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Poggi told reporters during the team’s final media availability on Tuesday, Dec. 22, that he wanted the permanent head coaching job at Michigan and that he wanted to “fix the program.”
Ultimately, Michigan landed Whittingham to replace Moore, who was fired for cause by the university on Wednesday, Dec. 10 after a university investigation found he had an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. He was arrested that same day and charged on Friday, December 12, with three counts, including a third-degree felony count of criminal trespass.
This article originally appeared in the Detroit Free Press: Biff Poggi endorses Michigan football’s hiring of Kyle Whittingham