Kyle Whittingham sees Michigan as ‘final challenge’ after Sherrone Moore scandal

Michigan hired Kyle Whittingham to clean up its mess of a football program in the wake of another scandal, and the new head coach has already begun the work. 

The 66-year-old Whittingham called Michigan a “special place” on Sunday, when he was introduced as the head coach of the Wolverines, who will face Texas on Wednesday in the Cheez-It Bowl. 

Whittingham stepped down as the head coach of Utah — where he had the job for more than two decades — two weeks ago.

At the time, he didn’t say he was retiring and soon after, discussions with Michigan began in the wake of the firing in Ann Arbor of Sherrone Moore for engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member, discovered through a university investigation.

Moore now faces three criminal charges — including felony third-degree home invasion — for allegedly confronting the staff member at her residence after being fired. 

Interim head coach Biff Poggi has since called Michigan a “malfunctioning organization,” and Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said the school started an investigation into the entire athletic department.

Whittingham hopes to fix the football program and said the opportunity presented a “legitimate opportunity to win a national championship. It has happened here. So, I looked at it as a final challenge.”

After signing a five-year deal, Whittingham added he had “no hesitation” in taking the job despite the chaos and knew the “general gist” of what transpired in the football program.

If nothing else, he figures to be able to run a clean program, as Utah never had any NCAA sanctions or investigations during Whittingham’s tenure, during which he led the Utes to a 177-88 record, as well as eight 10-win seasons since 2008.

He stepped down after leading Utah to a 10-2 record this season.

Here’s the latest on former Michigan coach Sherrone Moore

• Michigan coach’s bleary-eyed mugshot emerges after his shocking firing, arrest
• Disgraced ex-University of Michigan coach Sherrone Moore had ‘long history’ of abusing mistress, her lawyer alleges
• Michigan football coach jailed on suspicion of assault after shocking firing over ‘inappropriate relationship’
• Inside Michigan coach’s ‘strange’ behavior before his firing for ‘inappropriate’ relationship with staffer, shocking arrest
• Michigan fires head coach for ‘inappropriate relationship’ in college football bombshell

“They treated me well. Again, it was my decision to step down,” Whittingham said. “I just felt, again, the time was right. I’ve seen too many coaches hang on too long. I contemplated stepping down before last season, but we had such a frustrating season that I could not end on that note. So, I came back, righted the ship so to speak, and got back on track.”

Still, the move to Michigan was not expected, and Whittingham added that the way it worked out was “uncanny.”

“I made a mistake in Utah,’’ Whittingham said. “They started asking me about retirement, and I started answering questions.” 

Now he’s got a new task at Michigan, and one of his first will be to keep freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood, with whom Whittingham said he met with for 45 minutes.

“A quarterback’s got to have an ‘it’ factor, and he’s got it,” Whittingham said. “The offense we’re bringing here, I think, is going to suit him to a tee. And I think he’s going to really, really excel and have a great experience here.”