(WXYZ) — Michigan has officially hired Kyle Whittingham to be the 22nd head football coach in the program's history. The announcement came down Friday night after reports throughout the day.
Whittingham, 66, has spent the past 21 years as the head coach for the Utah Utes, and announced he was leaving the university following the season.
More information in the video below
The news comes weeks after former head coach Sherrone Moore was fired and later arrested for allegedly having an inappropriate relationship with a staffer.
The contract is for five years, according to the university.
"Michigan is synonymous with tradition and excellence -- both on the field and beyond -- and our entire program is committed to upholding those values while striving for greatness together. My family and I are thrilled to join the University of Michigan community, and we look forward to helping our players grow, develop, and reach their highest potential -- on the gridiron, in the classroom, and as leaders. It's a privilege to be part of something that inspires pride in every Wolverine fan," Whittingham said in a statement.
Yahoo! Sports is reporting that Whittingham is expected to be with the Wolverines for their Citrus Bowl matchup against Texas on Dec. 31, the same day Utah is scheduled to face Nebraska in the Las Vegas Bowl.
According to CBS Sports, Utah offensive coordinator Jason Beck is expected to be the target for Whittingham's offensive coordinator job at Michigan. The Utes rank fifth in the nation in scoring average.
During Whittingham's tenure, the Utes has eight seasons with 10 wins or more, including this past season. They also had a winning record in 18 of 21 seasons.
Moore was fired earlier this month and later arraigned on three charges, including felony home invasion.
Watch below: University of Michigan athletic department faces scrutiny following Sherrone Moore arrest
Moore was charged with third-degree home invasion, a felony, as well as two misdemeanors – stalking and breaking & entering. He was arraigned on the charges on and given a $25,000 cash/surety bond with conditions, including a GPS tether, mental health treatment, and no contact with the victim. He later posted the bond and was released from custody hours after the arraignment.
You can watch the arraignment in the video below
During the arraignment, prosecutors detailed their case against Moore, saying that it is their understanding that Moore and the victim had an intimate relationship for a number of years, and that the victim broke up with Moore on Monday.
Then, prosecutors say that over several days, Moore continued to make numerous phone calls and texts to the victim, and after he was fired on Wednesday, he went to her apartment and "barged his way in."
Prosecutors say he grabbed butter knives and a pair of scissors and threatened his own life, saying things like "I'm going to kill myself. I'm going to make you watch," "my blood is on your hands," and "you ruined my life."