As a head coach, sometimes you have to be willing to step in and do what you ask your players to do. Other times, that is the beauty of being the coach and not the player anymore, getting to do only what you want to do, but for Kyle Whittingham, if he wants his players in the weight room, he is going to be there with them.
Trey Piece was the only player on the defensive side of the ball to appear at Big Ten Media Days with Michigan, and he shared a fun story with the media about his new head coach. At 66 years old, Whittingham isn't letting his guys sweat it out alone in the weight room, sometimes doing exercise right along with them.
"He gets after it," Pierce said. "He works out sometimes when we're working out, and he's out there doing his thing, bench pressing, doing suspended crunches, like, you would think a guy his age can't move like that, but he gets after it."
"You would think a guy his age can't move like that, but he gets after it." 🤣@UMichFootball DL Trey Pierce on HC Kyle Whittingham's impressive work in the weight room 🏋️♂️ pic.twitter.com/G4jpemil2I
— Michigan On BTN (@MichiganOnBTN) July 30, 2026
Imagine being in the weight room and looking over to see your 66-year-old head coach benching the same weight as you. Okay, maybe it isn't benching that much, but clearly it is enough to impress a guy like Pierce, who probably benches some serious weight. Clearly, Whittingham is taking any time he can to be around his players, continuing to strengthen the bond with them, and this is a great way to do it.
Kyle Whittingham is proving that age won't stop him, especially at Michigan
Whittingham has been in the coaching game for quite some time, but hey, if someone like Kansas State head coach legend Bill Snyder can coach until he was nearly 80 years old, Whittingham still has plenty of time left on the sidelines.
Like Pierce said, you wouldn't think someone like Whittingham would move as well as he does, but this isn't the first time Whittingham hasn't shown his age. Back during Michigan's biggest recruiting event, Victors Weekend, Whittingham pulled the coolest stunt by coming out on a Michigan helmet-themed motorcycle, driving the thing all over the field, impressing the recruits.
Before that, Whittingham got to ride in the lead car for the IndyCar race in Detroit, where he got t up to some pretty high speeds. Honestly, even looking at Whittingham, the white hair aside, sometimes he doesn't even look as old as he is.
While it seems like Whittingham should be slowing down, clearly Pierce's story shows he isn't keeping himself in good shape for his team. Whittingham said at Media Days that the coaching staff had created great relationships in the seven months they have been in Ann Arbor, and this is probably a pretty good reason why.
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