Kyle Whittingham sends special message to Michigan fans right after getting hired

Kyle Whittingham is officially the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines. After two decades as the Utah Utes head coach and three total decades with the program, most people thought he would never leave the state, especially after playing collegiate football for BYU.

However, after Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel named Whittingham as the Wolverines' newest leader, the Michigan head coach seemed as excited as possible to take over the perennial powerhouse program.

"Honored to be here. Honored to be the football coach of this great University. Can't wait to get working with our players, getting to know them, and getting Michigan football to where it should be," Whittingham said in a video message shared by the team.

Kyle Whittingham is no longer a West "Coast" man

Whittingham said exactly what the Wolverines needed to hear: "getting Michigan football to where it should be."

Even though Michigan won a National Championship just two years ago, the Wolverines have fallen well short of expectations since then, and any of their accomplishments have been overshadowed by one scandal after another.

Whittingham is exactly what the program needs. An undeniably experienced leader who has stayed blameless over his 21 years as a head coach.

Since taking over the Utah football program in 2004, Whittingham has led the Utes to a 177-88 overall record, including two Pac-12 titles and 11 bowl game victories.

Growing up in California, Whittingham played college ball for the BYU Cougars before spending a few years in the NFL for the Denver Broncos and LA Rams. He took his first coaching job as a graduate assistant at BYU before heading to Eastern Utah and eventually Idaho State.

Simply put, Whittingham hasn't gone east of Colorado ever in his professional career (other than away games). So, Manuel landing him as the Wolverines' new coach was a huge get for the program, especially since Whittingham was planning to retire after this season.