Michigan announced that head coach Kyle Whittingham made his first appearance at Big Ten Media Days, where he spoke about taking over the Wolverines program.
“Excited to be at Michigan. What a place. University that really has it all. You talk about resources, academics, tradition, history, the whole nine yards,” Whittingham said.
The coach reflected on his first seven months in Ann Arbor. He praised how smoothly spring and summer conditioning went while putting together his coaching staff.
Whittingham’s staff includes offensive coordinator Jason Beck, defensive coordinator Jay Hill, and special teams coordinator Kerry Coombs.
Whittingham addressed the scrutiny that’s followed the program in recent years. He acknowledged the drama but expressed hope the team can move forward.
“There has been a lot of drama, as I mentioned before. We hope that we’ve come to the end of that and we’re ready to proceed just with the business of playing football and winning football games and graduating players,” Whittingham noted.
The development of sophomore quarterback Bryce Underwood remains a key focus for Michigan.
Underwood started as a true freshman last season and won nine games under pressure. Whittingham praised the young quarterback’s approach to the game.
“His work ethic is second to none. He wants to be great as badly as any player I’ve ever been around… He has a very high ceiling. I think he’s going to turn out to be a very successful quarterback at Michigan.”
Whittingham also weighed in on the current state of college athletics. He expressed concerns about name, image, and likeness spending getting out of control.
The Michigan coach voiced support for Lane Kiffin’s proposals for changes to the system.
Whittingham advocated for a salary cap and an NFL minor league model to bring structure to college athletics. He believes guardrails are needed to make the current system more sustainable.
Looking ahead to Big Ten play, Whittingham emphasized his team’s foundational approach. He wants Michigan to stop the run on defense and establish a ground game on offense.
The Wolverines are focused on letting their play speak for itself this season.
