Michigan’s Kyle Whittingham Pushes Back on Former Players' Alarming Accusations
Michigan Wolverines head coach Kyle Whittingham responded to allegations from his former Utah Utes players.
A recent report from The Salt Lake Tribune alleged that former Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham pressured his medical staff to have players play through injuries. Six former Utah players have come forward with their accounts, claiming they felt coerced into playing despite injuries. Whittingham, now head coach of the Michigan Wolverines, dismissed these claims during an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show.
"Never in my career have I ever tried to sway, influence, whatever the word is, our medical staffs," he stated. "We listen to the medical staff. If they say a player's available, we go with that. And if they say he's not available, we go with that." Whittingham confessed to not understanding how these allegations came about. The University of Utah addressed the accusations with a statement, reaffirming their commitment to following university and national guidelines for student athlete safety and well-being.
They invited former players to voice any concerns for evaluation and policy adjustment. Whittingham and Michigan are set to begin their 2026 season with a game against Western Michigan on Saturday.
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