Kirk Herbstreit reacts to Michigan’s hire of Kyle Whittingham
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Kirk Herbstreit offered a strong endorsement of Michigan’s new football coach.
Michigan’s coaching search of just over 2 weeks concluded Friday evening when the school announced the hiring of Kyle Whittingham. Saturday morning, Herbstreit commented on social media, calling it a “fantastic hire.”
Congrats on a fantastic hire!
— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) December 27, 2025
Couldn’t have hand picked a better coach to reestablish the Michigan brand. https://t.co/bZN10oOjno
Whittingham heads to Ann Arbor after 21 seasons at Utah. He posted a 177-88 record, leading Utah to 18 winning seasons and double-digit victories 8 times. Whittingham’s tenure included an undefeated season in 2008 and 3 national Coach of the Year honors.
Earlier this month, Whittingham announced that he was stepping down from his post in Salt Lake City coaching the Utes. Whittingham, 66, did not close the door on coaching again, and it didn’t take long for Michigan to come calling as the Wolverines searched for a new full-time coach after the dismissal of Sherrone Moore.
Herbstreit comments not only as a college football commentator for ESPN, but also as a Wolverine parent. Chase Herbstreit, Kirk’s son, joined the program in 2025. He was named the Scout Team Offensive Player of the Week for his role in preparing the defense for Wisconsin.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
