Michigan’s search for a new head coach has ended not with a rising star but with one of college football’s most established veterans, and the price tag shows their commitment. Kyle Whittingham has signed a five-year deal with Michigan, and the contract numbers are finally here. 

“Kyle Whittingham’s five-year deal at Michigan averages $8.2 million per year over the course of the deal, sources tell me and @danwetzel,” tweeted ESPN’s Pete Thamel on December 26. “The deal is 75-percent guaranteed, and he’s expected to make $8 million in salary at Michigan in 2026.” 

While official details remain under wraps, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports that Kyle Whittingham’s new five-year deal with Michigan is done.

Whittingham’s paycheck tops Moore’s by around $2 million annually, and it’s no surprise. With 21 seasons at Utah, Fiesta and Rose Bowl appearances, and a 177-88 record, he’s a heavyweight coach.

Whittingham was set to earn $6.9 million from Utah in 2025, with potential for additional growth through bonuses. A 2023 contract tweak temporarily trimmed his bowl bonus by $100K. Before starting his new stint with Michigan, Whittingham, according to the College Football Network, is reported to have an estimated net worth of $34 million. 

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His rise was classic grind-to-glory. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at BYU, then moved on to stints at Eastern Utah, Idaho State, and Utah, where he served as a defensive line coach.

He then climbed to defensive coordinator before taking the Utes’ helm in 2005. His early salary was modest, about $1.2 million a year after a 2008 extension, but that was the same year he snagged National Coach of the Year honors.

Whittingham’s payday kept climbing: a contract extension doubled his salary to $3.3 million, then another bump in 2022 took him to $6.9 million per year. However, in December 2025, he made his feelings clear about stepping down from the Utes’ big chair. 

“I’m a free agent in the transfer portal,” said Whittingham.

Whittingham’s final deal keeps him tagged with the Utah campus for two years as a ‘special assistant.’ This role requires focusing on consulting, fundraising, and donor relations, with an annual reported compensation of $3.45 million.

At 66, Whittingham’s age sparked questions about how long he’d coach. Now, with a five-year contract confirmed by the ESPN insider, Michigan fans know he is locked in through 2030.

While the official statement has yet to be released, the staff that Whittingham would be bringing in have started to circulate. 

Kyle Whittingham might fill the Michigan roster with a touch of familiarity

Landing the Michigan gig might have Whittingham reaching for his phone to call former defensive ace Jay Hill.

“BYU defensive coordinator Jay Hill is expected to be among the names of interest for the Michigan DC job, sources tell @RJ_cfb and me,” reported CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz on X.

Hill came up under Whittingham at Utah, coaching from 2005 to 2013. During that time, he wore many hats, including those of cornerback, running back, and tight end. Not just Hill, Whittingham’s list is expected to be long when it comes to Ann Arbor’s coaching roster shake-up. 

According to Zenitz, Whittingham plans to target Jason Beck as Michigan’s offensive coordinator. Beck engineered Utah’s most significant offensive leap in decades. He turned a 2024 squad that averaged 23.6 points and 329.8 yards per game into a high-powered unit. 

While the future of Michigan under Whittingham already looks exciting, the Wolverines’ former coach, Connor Stalions, raised some doubts.  

“Michigan should be heavily concerned about Kyle Whittingham being (*checks notes*) 18 months older than the best coach in college football,” Stallions wrote on X.

Connor Stalions’ critique wasn’t about skill. Born on November 21, 1959, Kyle Whittingham edges Curt Cignetti, born June 2, 1961, a gap that matters in today’s college football world of long-term roster building, NIL deals, and nonstop recruiting.

Does Michigan’s half-decade deal for Whittingham suggest the next head coach is already on their radar?