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WINTER GARDEN, Fla. -- The Wolverines are still preparing to face Texas in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, but even with a big-time matchup on the horizon, it's difficult not to look beyond that to the future of the program.
Michigan football hired the 22nd head coach in team history, with former Utah leader Kyle Whittingham being introduced to the public on Sunday morning. While he's letting the existing staff continue to prepare for the Longhorns, he's meeting with players one-on-one as he figures out who will join him in Ann Arbor in 2026 and what his next steps are.
Of those he's had a private meeting with thus far, is second-year right guard Jake Guarnera.
Guarnera has started much of the 2025 season after an injury to Brady Norton, retaining the job even after Norton returned healthy. Though some players may want to look around and see what their options are, Guarnera is bought in with Whittingham, confirming he intends to stay with the program, while also sharing he had some inside info about what his new coach brings to the table.
"I think he's great. I've heard all great things," Guarnera said. "One of my buddies was a D-end at Utah, and he told me all great things about Coach Whittingham, so I'm really excited.
"I reached out to him, I called him. I was like, 'What do you think of Coach Whittingham?' I asked him a bunch of questions, and I was just really impressed with everything that he said."
While Guarnera wouldn't get into the specifics as to his conversation with his new head coach, he did say that his message to the team has a unique appeal to him. As it turns out, things haven't gone the way many of the more mature players would have liked, and Guarnera appreciates that Willingham wants to restore order in Ann Arbor.
"He's just gonna bring back discipline to this program and being focused on a goal of winning," Guarnera said. "I would say this year, kind of noticed it. I think all the guys want to win, and I think that's something we need to do to take that next step."
With team discipline, which Guarnera says is both on and off the field, being a chief concern, he asked his friend, freshman edge rusher Ryker Kemp, how Whittingham handles things. And, according to Guarnera, Whittingham's approach is sorely needed in Ann Arbor.
"He said that when someone's out of line, it's going to be either you get in line with the team, or someone's going to have to change," Guarnera said. "So that's something that we need, and I'm excited for Coach Whittingham to step up."
Whittingham is officially the head coach but it will be a few days until he takes full control of the team, as Biff Poggi continues on as interim coach through the Citrus Bowl.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Kyle Whittingham tells players discipline to define Michigan football
Continue reading...
Michigan football hired the 22nd head coach in team history, with former Utah leader Kyle Whittingham being introduced to the public on Sunday morning. While he's letting the existing staff continue to prepare for the Longhorns, he's meeting with players one-on-one as he figures out who will join him in Ann Arbor in 2026 and what his next steps are.
Of those he's had a private meeting with thus far, is second-year right guard Jake Guarnera.
Guarnera has started much of the 2025 season after an injury to Brady Norton, retaining the job even after Norton returned healthy. Though some players may want to look around and see what their options are, Guarnera is bought in with Whittingham, confirming he intends to stay with the program, while also sharing he had some inside info about what his new coach brings to the table.
"I think he's great. I've heard all great things," Guarnera said. "One of my buddies was a D-end at Utah, and he told me all great things about Coach Whittingham, so I'm really excited.
"I reached out to him, I called him. I was like, 'What do you think of Coach Whittingham?' I asked him a bunch of questions, and I was just really impressed with everything that he said."
While Guarnera wouldn't get into the specifics as to his conversation with his new head coach, he did say that his message to the team has a unique appeal to him. As it turns out, things haven't gone the way many of the more mature players would have liked, and Guarnera appreciates that Willingham wants to restore order in Ann Arbor.
"He's just gonna bring back discipline to this program and being focused on a goal of winning," Guarnera said. "I would say this year, kind of noticed it. I think all the guys want to win, and I think that's something we need to do to take that next step."
With team discipline, which Guarnera says is both on and off the field, being a chief concern, he asked his friend, freshman edge rusher Ryker Kemp, how Whittingham handles things. And, according to Guarnera, Whittingham's approach is sorely needed in Ann Arbor.
"He said that when someone's out of line, it's going to be either you get in line with the team, or someone's going to have to change," Guarnera said. "So that's something that we need, and I'm excited for Coach Whittingham to step up."
Whittingham is officially the head coach but it will be a few days until he takes full control of the team, as Biff Poggi continues on as interim coach through the Citrus Bowl.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Kyle Whittingham tells players discipline to define Michigan football
Continue reading...
