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Kyle Whittingham: Hiring at Michigan happened quickly (1:48)
Kyle Whittingham discusses his choice to leave Utah and meeting the Michigan team for the first time. (1:48)
Jake TrotterJan 1, 2026, 10:37 AM ET
- Jake Trotter is a senior writer at ESPN. Trotter covers college football. He also writes about other college sports, including men's and women's basketball. Trotter resides in the Cleveland area with his wife and three kids and is a fan of his hometown Oklahoma City Thunder. He covered the Cleveland Browns and NFL for ESPN for five years, moving back to college football in 2024. Previously, Trotter worked for the Middletown (Ohio) Journal, Austin American-Statesman and Oklahoman newspapers before joining ESPN in 2011. He's a 2004 graduate of Washington and Lee University. You can reach out to Trotter at [email protected] and follow him on X at @Jake_Trotter.
New Michigan football coach Kyle Whittingham is bringing Utah offensive coordinator Jason Beck with him to be his playcaller with the Wolverines, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel.
While the deal has not officially been announced, Whittingham acknowledged the hire during an appearance on ESPN's "College Gameday" on Thursday, calling the move "huge" for Michigan.
"It's going to be a big plus having him there in Ann Arbor," Whittingham said.
In 2025, Beck's only season with Utah under Whittingham, the Utes' offense ranked fifth in scoring, averaging 41.3 points per game. The Utes also ranked No. 1 in yards per rush (6.02) and second in rushing yards per game (266.3).
Beck was the offensive coordinator at New Mexico in 2024 and was offensive coordinator for Syracuse in 2023.
Sources also tell Thamel that BYU defensive coordinator Jay Hill has officially agreed to become Michigan's DC.
The Wolverines are also hiring veteran offensive line coach Jim Harding away from the Utes, sources told ESPN's Adam Rittenberg. Harding coached Utah's offensive line for the past 11 seasons and mentored 20 first- or second-team all-league players, including Outland Trophy winner Spencer Fano this season.
The Wolverines finished their season Wednesday, losing to Texas 41-27 in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.
