Kyle Whittingham on Ohio State: ‘That game is of the utmost importance’
Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham clarifies his comments on rival Ohio State during a media availability Aug. 10, 2026.
The University of Utah is suing former tight ends coach Freddie Whittingham for breach of contract after following his brother, Kyle Whittingham, to Michigan this offseason, according to documents obtained by USA TODAY on Wednesday, Aug. 20.
The lawsuit — filed Aug. 3 in Utah Third District Court — claims Freddie Whittingham abandoned his position around Jan. 1, although he was under contract through Jan. 31, 2027. Utah is seeking more than $300,000 and at least $1 million in damages.
The lawsuit also alleges Freddie Whittingham didn’t provide Utah with written notice before leaving the school for Michigan, nor did he pay the liquidated damages required in his contract. The lawsuit states Utah associate athletic director Jeff Rudy called Freddie Whittingham on Jan. 1 to inform him he was still employed by the school.
The lawsuit also claims Michigan associate athletic director Jerry Wood sent an email to an unnamed Utah staffer on Jan. 3 asking Utah to transfer Freddie Whittingham’s phone line to Michigan’s accounts. Freddie Whittingham then texted Rudy later that day saying Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel would reach out to discuss a buyout.
Freddie Whittingham spent 14 seasons on the Utes’ staff under his brother, who was hired to replace Sherrone Moore as Michigan’s head coach prior to the season. Freddie Whittingham was Utah’s director of player personnel from 2012-15 before becoming tight ends coach from 2016-25. Freddie Whittingham is currently Michigan’s tight ends coach.
The lawsuit alleges Freddie Whittingham was recruiting Utah players to Michigan while still under contract with the school, among them tight end JJ Buchanan, who’s now with the Wolverines. It also claims Whittingham spent time negotiation employment at Michigan on Jan. 3 instead of attending a recruiting event at Utah.
Freddie Whittingham also refused to pay liquidated damages back to Utah, according to the lawsuit. Utah emailed Freddie Whittingham on Jan. 16 requesting liquidated damages, before he responded on Jan. 21 and disputed owing the school. The lawsuit stated the other assistant coaches to leave Utah are all compliant with their contract and payments of liquidated damages.
Freddie Whittingham signed a two-year deal worth $1.25 million at Michigan, according to the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network. Whittingham was making a base salary of $525,000 last season at Utah, according to the lawsuit.
Kyle Whittingham was hired as Utah’s defensive line coach in 1994 before rising through the ranks as defensive coordinator and then head coach, a position he took over in 2005. His new job at Michigan is the first time the Utah native has coached outside of Utah since 1993, when he was an assistant at Idaho State.