New Michigan football head coach Kyle Whittingham was introduced at a press conference on Sunday, and it didn't take long to figure out he knows what he's doing.
That was clear based on his career 66.8 winning percentage in 21 seasons with Utah, a run which included three conference championships, as well as a perfect season in 2008.
Whittingham is a winner, and his instincts on what to do first are exactly right.
New Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham has priorities in order
The new Michigan head coach said his first priority was player retention, which is music to the ears of Michigan football fans, or it should be.
Whittingham said that college football was all about players, and he added, that if you have players, you have a chance.
Players weren't the problem last season for Michigan. It was the head coach. Bryce Underwood is as talented as any Wolverines quarterback, ever. Jordan Marshall could be an All-American running back and Andrew Marsh has that same potential.
The offensive line is loaded. Utah offensive line coach Jim Harding would have to be crazy to turn down the chance to work with those guys. Michigan started three redshirt sophomores and rushed for 219 yards per game with 5.5 yards per attempt. That production came with a third-string back playing two games, and the preferred starter, Justice Haynes, out for most of conference play.
Whittingham said during his press conference that he spent 45 minutes meeting with Bryce Underwood, who said he was "excited" about the hire even before that meeting.
Bringing back Underwood is essential. The same can be said for Marsh. Marshall already said he wants to play for Michigan next season, so it seems like Whittingham is on his way to retaining some of the best players on the roster.
We'll have a better idea of where things stand a week from now, but at the very least, Michigan football head coach Kyle Whittingham has his priorities in order.