(Photo credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images)

Michigan's hiring of Utah coach Kyle Whittingham is imminent, multiple outlets reported on Friday afternoon.

Whittingham, 66, announced earlier this month that he is stepping down after 21 seasons as the Utes' head coach.

He led Utah to a 177-88 record over his tenure, earning one Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year award (2008) and two Pac-12 Coach of the Year honors in 2019 and 2021.

His farewell appearance with No. 15 Utah (10-2) was scheduled to be against Nebraska (7-5) in the Las Vegas Bowl on New Year's Eve.

Whittingham made it clear that he wasn't retiring when he announced his departure from Utah.

'Who knows?' he told reporters in Salt Lake City. 'I'm stepping down, step away and reevaluate things. ... I'm a free agent, I'm in the transfer portal. It's a different feel, but I'm at peace. And I did not want to be that guy who overstayed his welcome with people saying, 'Hey, when's this guy gonna leave?' That was not my intention -- ever. I hope I didn't do that. I'm sure with some people I did do that. To me, the timing was right.'

According to ESPN, top Michigan officials will discuss Whittingham's candidacy on Friday and a deal could happen 'in the near future' if he is approved.

Michigan fired head coach Sherrone Moore with cause on Dec. 10 for having an extramarital relationship with a subordinate in the football program.

Whittingham has run a scandal-free program at Utah, making him a potential breath of fresh air after the recent turbulence in Ann Arbor with Moore's dismissal and NCAA investigations and sanctions for a sign-stealing scheme under previous head coach Jim Harbaugh.

Interim coach Biff Poggi will lead the No. 18 Wolverines (9-3) against No. 13 Texas (9-3) in the Citrus Bowl on New Year's Eve in Orlando.

--Field Level Media