Michigan sets sights on new head coach candidate to replace Sherrone Moore following scandal: report

As the University of Michigan continues to woody with the fallout of the Sherrone Moore firing, his replacement whitethorn person travel into focus.

Kyle Whittingham, who announced helium would measurement down arsenic Utah’s caput manager aft 21 seasons pursuing their vessel crippled connected Dec. 31, has go "the absorption of Michigan’s coaching search," according to ESPN.

It is expected that Whittingham’s candidacy volition beryllium shared with Michigan officials connected Friday, and they could beryllium offering him a woody soon aft that.

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Utah Utes caput manager Kyle Whittingham looks connected from the sidelines during the archetypal fractional against the Baylor Bears astatine McLane Stadium successful Waco, Texas, connected Nov. 15, 2025. (Chris Jones/Imagn Images)

After starring Utah to a 10-2 record, Whittingham notched a vocation 177-88 grounds implicit his 2 decades worthy of coaching the Utes. He adjacent had a cleanable 13-0 play successful 2008, and galore expect him to 1 time beryllium successful the College Football Hall of Fame successful Atlanta, Georgia.

But erstwhile helium announced helium would beryllium stepping down, helium joked during his connection that helium was entering "the transportation portal" alternatively of simply retiring from the sport.

The 66-year-old inactive wants to coach, and he’s 1 of the hottest successful that market.

FIRED MICHIGAN COACH SHERRONE MOORE WAS ‘STRESSED OUT’ AS RUMORS SWIRLED ABOUT AFFAIR: ‘IT WAS TOO OBVIOUS’

Moore was fired aft Michigan recovered helium was having an inappropriate relationship, and helium was jailed soon aft for allegedly breaking into the staffer’s location and threatening to instrumentality his ain life.

Prosecutors accused Moore of contacting the staffer via telephone calls and texts aft the breakup, prompting the pistillate to interaction the University of Michigan and cooperate successful its investigation. Moore was subsequently fired from his presumption arsenic caput shot coach, which prosecutors said prompted him to amusement up astatine her home.

Texas Tech Red Raiders caput manager Joey McGuire speaks with Utah Utes caput manager Kyle Whittingham earlier the crippled astatine Rice-Eccles Stadium connected Sept. 20, 2025. (Rob Gray/Imagn Images)

Moore past allegedly "barged" his mode into the residence, grabbed a food weapon and a brace of room scissors and began threatening his ain life. According to prosecutors, Moore allegedly told the staffer, "My humor is connected your hands" and "You ruined my life."

If convicted, Moore faces much than fractional a decennary down bars, which would further harm immoderate hopes helium whitethorn person of getting backmost connected the sidelines. His adjacent tribunal day is scheduled for Jan. 22.

A not blameworthy plea was entered for Moore during his archetypal tribunal quality earlier this month.

Moore was "stressed out" during the 2025 season, according to The Detroit Free Press, with reported rumors helium had been successful an extramarital matter with a staffer.

Utah Utes caput manager Kyle Whittingham reacts during the 2nd fractional against the Kansas Jayhawks astatine David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium successful Lawrence, Kansas, connected Nov. 28, 2025. (Jay Biggerstaff/Imagn Images)

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"Guys implicit determination connected that broadside of the gathering 100% knew astir it," a erstwhile Michigan insider told the outlet. "They tin contradict it each they want, but there’s excessively galore things that happened. If you didn’t know, you’re an idiot. It was excessively obvious."

Moore's attorney, Ellen K. Michaels, told Fox News Digital she had nary remark regarding the article. 

Fox News’ Ryan Morik contributed to this report.

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