Probably due to fear of having the best football coach in America now leading the Michigan Wolverines. I have to take Urban Meyer at his word.
To address the lying drunk:
No, Kyle Whittingham did not fully retire; he stepped down as head coach at the University of Utah in mid-December 2025, making him a "free agent" to pursue new opportunities, and he is now expected to become the new head football coach at the University of Michigan. While some thought he'd retire at 66 after his long tenure at Utah, he clarified he was just leaving his current role, not ending his coaching career, and has since agreed to a deal with Michigan.
Key Details:
To address the lying drunk:
No, Kyle Whittingham did not fully retire; he stepped down as head coach at the University of Utah in mid-December 2025, making him a "free agent" to pursue new opportunities, and he is now expected to become the new head football coach at the University of Michigan. While some thought he'd retire at 66 after his long tenure at Utah, he clarified he was just leaving his current role, not ending his coaching career, and has since agreed to a deal with Michigan.
Key Details:
- Utah Departure: Whittingham announced he was stepping down from Utah after 21 seasons, a move that coincided with Utah's planned transition to Morgan Scalley as his successor.
- Michigan Opportunity: The opening at Michigan arose after their previous coach's departure, and Whittingham's availability led to him being hired by the Wolverines.
- Not Retirement: He explicitly stated he wasn't retiring, just stepping away from Utah to re-evaluate, and is now taking the Michigan job.