Jay Hill is heading to Ann Arbor, and Michigan's defense just got a serious upgrade.
The Wolverines have officially hired Hill as their new defensive coordinator, bringing in a coach with a proven track record of turning struggling defenses into elite units. Hill makes the move after three strong seasons at BYU, where he orchestrated one of the most impressive defensive turnarounds in recent college football memory.
This move also reunites Hill with new Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham. The two share deep roots-Hill both played and coached under Whittingham at Utah for a combined 15 seasons. That kind of familiarity and trust doesn’t just happen overnight, and it should pay dividends as the Wolverines look to retool their defense following a tough end to the 2025 season.
Let’s talk about what Hill brings to the table.
When he took over as BYU’s defensive coordinator after the 2022 season, the Cougars were reeling on that side of the ball. But Hill didn’t just patch things up-he rebuilt the defense from the ground up.
Over the past two seasons, BYU led the Big 12 in scoring defense, giving up just 19.4 points per game. That’s not just solid-that’s elite, especially in a conference known for high-octane offenses.
In 2024, Hill’s defense led the entire country in interceptions with 22. A year later, in 2025, the Cougars posted their highest sack total (30) since 2016. Those numbers aren’t just window dressing-they’re proof of a defense that’s aggressive, opportunistic, and fundamentally sound.
Before BYU, Hill spent nearly a decade as the head coach at Weber State, where he compiled a 68-39 record and won four Big Sky Conference championships. That kind of sustained success doesn’t happen without knowing how to build a program, develop players, and make smart in-game adjustments. It’s also a sign that Hill knows how to lead-not just a position group, but an entire unit.
At Michigan, Hill takes over a defense that, under Wink Martindale last season, allowed 312.3 yards and 18.7 points per game. Respectable numbers, but not quite enough to hold off Texas in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, where the Wolverines gave up 41 points in a 41-27 loss. That performance exposed some cracks, and Hill’s job now is to seal those up and elevate the unit to the kind of dominance Michigan fans expect.
Hill won’t be the only fresh face on Whittingham’s staff in Ann Arbor. Jason Beck is also leaving Utah to join the Wolverines, signaling a broader overhaul as Whittingham puts his stamp on the program.
Meanwhile, back in Provo, BYU head coach Kalani Sitake now has a key vacancy to fill. With Hill gone, the Cougars will need to find a new defensive coordinator who can sustain the momentum and keep current players and coaches in the fold.
But for Michigan, this hire is a statement. Jay Hill has built elite defenses at every stop, and now he’s bringing that blueprint to the Big Ten. If his track record is any indication, the Wolverines just landed one of the most impactful coaching additions of the offseason.