Coaching carousels reward preparation. Michigan didn’t have that luxury. The Wolverines fired Sherrone Moore for cause in December while most programs had already locked down their replacements. The search looked rushed. The timeline looked impossible. Kyle Whittingham changed that perception immediately by signing on the day after Christmas, bringing credibility the program desperately needed after weeks of uncertainty.
Richard Johnson of CBS Sports released his coaching hire evaluations Friday, covering every FBS move from the past cycle. Whittingham received an A, joining UCLA, Virginia Tech, and Oklahoma State as the only programs earning top marks. Johnson acknowledged that Whittingham’s Utah exit wasn’t shocking given annual retirement talk, but his decision to coach again caught people off guard. Johnson praised offensive coordinator Jason Beck’s system as perfect for quarterback Bryce Underwood and noted Whittingham’s identity should translate well to Ann Arbor.
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Whittingham built Utah into a consistent winner over two decades, posting at least 10 victories eight times. His best work came during an undefeated 2008 campaign that culminated in a Sugar Bowl victory over Nick Saban’s Alabama team. Whittingham hadn’t changed jobs since becoming Utah’s defensive line coach in 1994 after leaving Idaho State. Michigan marks the first time the program has hired someone directly from another college head coaching position since bringing in Brady Hoke from San Diego State in 2011…