Utah alleges breach of contract in lawsuit against Michigan TE coach Freddie Whittingham
Freddie Whittingham signed a two-year contract with Michigan on Jan. 7, 2026.
The University of Utah has filed a lawsuit against Michigan tight ends coach Freddie Whittingham, alleging that he breached his contract by abandoning his position at Utah to take a job at Michigan. The suit, filed on August 3, 2025, claims that Whittingham failed to provide written notice of resignation and pay liquidated damages, and that he is owed $300,000 in breach of contract damages and a minimum of $1 million in punitive damages.
The lawsuit alleges that Whittingham actively recruited Utah players and recruits to Michigan while still employed at Utah. Whittingham signed a two-year contract with Michigan in January 2026, earning $600,000 in the first year and $650,000 in the second, along with a signing bonus of $605,000. The lawsuit also claims that Whittingham made no attempt to pay the liquidated damages clause outlined in his contract, despite being informed by Utah on January 1, 2026 that he was still employed.
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