Kyle Whittingham understands how important it is to be elite in the trenches, and that's reflected in his Michigan football coaching staff.
After luring away one of the best offensive line coaches in college football, Jim Harding, an Ohio native, Whittingham, who was announced as Michigan football head coach on Sunday, has also hired Lewis Powell away from Utah to be the defensive line coach and run-game coordinator, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel.
Source: Utah defensive ends coach Lewis Powell is leaving for Michigan to work with Kyle Whittingham. He’s expected to work with the defensive line there and be run game coordinator. He’s been with Whittingham for 11 seasons, 10 of which were with the defensive line. pic.twitter.com/PjLxmZ0yJJ
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 1, 2026
This is big news for a few reasons. One, it means that another Michigan assistant won't be back. Lou Esposito is another coach who won't be retained. There might be not any defensive assistants retained when it's all said and done.
Since 2015, Powell has coached defensive ends for Utah and has two All-Americans, six NFL draft picks, and seven first-team all-conference selections.
Powell is a proven developer of talent, and Michigan football will have plenty for him to work with, such as a five-star Carter Meadows, who was the No. 6 overall prospect in the 2026 class. Meadows should be ecstatic about this hire and what it could mean for his future.
Kyle Whittingham is building an elite staff
Whittingham is a proven winner, and this is why. He knows how to build a championship organization. There's a reason Utah won the Pac-12 when Oregon and USC were still in it.
This staff is such an upgrade over last season, even with some moves left. Kerry Coombs would make a ton of sense as special teams coach. The secondary coach is still up in the air, but outside of staff, things are almost set, and it's as good as any Michigan fan could have wanted.