The University of Utah is suing Freddie Whittingham, claiming that the former Utes tight ends coach breached his contract when he left Salt Lake City to join his brother's staff at Michigan.
As reported by the Deseret News, Kyle Whittingham, Freddie’s brother, stepped down from his position as Utah’s head coach Dec. 12 and was hired as Michigan’s head coach Dec 26.
CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported Jan. 1 that “Utah tight ends coach Freddie Whittingham is set to be hired as part of the staff at Michigan,” and Michigan officially announced the hiring on Jan. 7.
Freddie Whittingham was seen at a Michigan basketball game Jan. 2 with Kyle Whittingham, standing behind Kyle as he addressed the crowd, according to Joe Coles of the Deseret News.
“First order of business was to assemble a great assistant coaching staff,” Kyle Whittingham said at the game. He then gestured toward the coaches standing behind him, including Freddie, and said, “They’re here.”
Utah, which filed the lawsuit against Freddie Whittingham on Aug. 3 in Salt Lake City’s 3rd District Court, claims that on or about Jan. 1, 2026, Freddie Whittingham “called and spoke with Utah Associate Athletic Director for Administration Jeff Rudy about F. Whittingham’s employment status.”
Rudy informed Freddie Whittingham that “he remained employed by Utah through the term of the Employment Agreement.” Freddie Whittingham’s contract with Utah runs through Jan. 31, 2027.
According to the lawsuit, which was reviewed by the Deseret News, “At no time did F. Whittingham obtain written consent from Utah to seek, negotiate for, or accept full-time or part-time employment by Michigan or any other employer.”
The lawsuit went on to say, “F. Whittingham did not send Utah a resignation letter or other formal notice that he was terminating the Employment Agreement” and “Utah did not terminate the Employment Agreement.”
But local observers have questioned the optics of the situation.
Local sports radio station KZNS posted a clip of its KSL Sports Zone program on YouTube with the headline, "It's Time for Utah's Athletic Department to Move on from the Wittinghams," as well as the tagline, "This feels like a petty move from Utah."
