Utah contends ex-tight ends coach Freddie Whittingham breached his contract when he left to join his brother, Kyle Whittingham, on the Michigan football staff and has filed a lawsuit against him.
Kyle Whittingham, 66, had been the head football coach of the Utes for 21 seasons before saying he was stepping away from the job after a 10-2 season. While he didn’t announce his retirement, he later said it would have taken a very special job to get him back on the sideline.
Michigan was that program, and Kyle Whittingham added his brother to his coaching staff. Freddie Whittingham, 60, had been on his brother’s Utah staff since 2012, filling a variety of roles.
The Salt Lake Tribune reported Thursday that the university filed suit in Utah’s 3rd District Court on Aug. 3, accusing Freddie Whittingham of job abandonment because his contract ran through Jan. 31, 2027, with a base salary of $525,000. Utah contends the coach committed other acts that violated his agreement.
Citing pending litigation, a Utah spokesperson declined to comment to the newspaper. Michigan did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
According to The Tribune, Utah also accuses Freddie Whittingham of the following: failing to get permission from the school before having job talks with Michigan; failing to provide a written resignation before accepting the Wolverines’ offer; recruiting Utes players to transfer to Michigan, which five did; not paying liquidated damages for his departure as specified in his contract; and a lack of devoting his “full-time attention and energy” to his job.
Utah is asking for more than $300,000 for breach of contract, punitive damages and at least $1 million in general and special damages, per The Tribune.
The newspaper also reported that six coaches who departed for Michigan had a liquidated damages clause in their contracts, and Freddie Whittingham is the only coach who has not met the terms.
No. 21 Utah opens the 2026 season at home on Sept. 3 against Idaho. No. 16 Michigan opens at home on Sept. 5 against Western Michigan.