Two decades after cutting his teeth as an assistant under Kyle Whittingham at Utah, Jay Hill is back under his old mentor-but this time, the stakes are even higher. After a successful run as head coach at Weber State and a strong showing as BYU’s defensive coordinator, Hill has taken the next leap: he’s now the defensive coordinator for the Michigan Wolverines.
And if you ask Hill, this wasn’t a tough call.
“The decision to come to Michigan was not hard at all,” Hill said. “Coach Whitt called me and said, ‘Hey, I think I have this opportunity.
What do you think?’ I said, ‘Coach, I’m in, because it’s Michigan.’”
That last line says it all. For Hill, this isn’t just a job-it’s a chance to be part of something bigger.
Michigan isn’t just another stop on the coaching carousel. It’s a national brand, a perennial contender with a fan base that expects championships.
And Hill made it clear: he’s here to win.
“I believe we can win national championships here. I believe we can win consistent Big Ten championships here,” he said.
“With the way Coach Whitt coaches-his discipline and toughness-I just think it’s a perfect match for Michigan. I was in.”
Hill joins a Wolverines program that’s been through its share of turbulence in recent years but remains one of college football’s true bluebloods. And now, with Whittingham at the helm and Hill running the defense, there’s a renewed sense of direction in Ann Arbor. This isn’t just about maintaining Michigan’s high standards-it’s about raising the bar even further.
The bond between Whittingham and Hill clearly runs deep. What began as a coach-player dynamic at Utah has evolved into a trusted partnership.
Whittingham knows what Hill brings to the table: a sharp defensive mind, proven leadership, and a relentless work ethic. And Hill knows exactly what kind of culture Whittingham builds-one rooted in toughness, discipline, and accountability.
That’s the kind of foundation that wins in the Big Ten.
Hill’s move from BYU to Michigan also speaks volumes about his ambition. He was coming off a strong season with the Cougars, a team that was in the thick of the Big 12 title race and knocking on the door of the College Football Playoff. But when Michigan came calling, the opportunity was too big to pass up.
Now, Hill steps into a high-pressure role with sky-high expectations. Michigan fans aren’t just hoping for a solid defense-they’re expecting a unit that can dominate in the trenches, shut down high-powered offenses, and deliver when it matters most. That’s the bar, and Hill knows it.
The Wolverines open their 2026 campaign on September 5 against Western Michigan, but the real measuring stick comes a week later when they host Oklahoma-a rematch with plenty of emotional weight behind it. For Hill and the rest of the Michigan staff, it’s a chance to make an early statement.
There’s still a long road ahead, but one thing’s clear: with Jay Hill calling the shots on defense and Kyle Whittingham leading the charge, Michigan’s not just aiming to compete-they’re aiming to conquer.