Jay Hill has walked into Michigan with a defense built to be a problem.
After three seasons of proving he could maximize less at BYU, the defensive coordinator is now operating in a very different environment in Ann Arbor. The expectation is higher, the talent is deeper, and through 13 practices, Hill has already seen enough to like.
“I really like the physicality with the ones and the way they're executing,” Hill said. “I see a defensive front that can be stout.
I see DBs that can cover. I see linebackers that have really picked up the scheme that's pretty complicated.
Those guys are doing a good job.
That scheme is no simple thing. Hill has made a name for himself with defenses that use multiple fronts, disguised coverages, pre-snap movement and a heavy dose of physicality. His units are designed to keep offenses guessing, create pressure in a variety of ways and force players to think fast while tackling well.
At Michigan, he’s starting with a different kind of roster than the one he worked with at BYU. In Provo, recruiting was a grind, and Hill and his staff had to identify players they liked, develop them and turn them into dependable contributors. Michigan gives him a much wider talent pool to work with, and that has already shown up in the early returns.
Hill’s first year as defensive coordinator at BYU was a rough one statistically, with the defense finishing No. 99 in the country in points allowed. But in 2024 and 2024, his units finished in the top 20, a turnaround that fits the kind of success Michigan expects from that side of the ball.
He says the way he coaches helps make that system work. Hill described his style as upbeat and energetic, with an emphasis on preparation before the ball is even snapped.
“So my coaching style through is upbeat, energetic,” he said. “I love the game.
I love being around the players. I love to see the improvement as far as game time adjustments go, I think 90% of them are already thought out beforehand.
If we're doing this and they're getting us a little bit, then we can go to this. And so 90% of the adjustments are already made in my head.
We go into every situation with multiple calls, and so if something's not working, we have things to fall back on right away.”
Hill also has the benefit of a long apprenticeship under and around head coach Kyle Whittingham. While Hill will be the one making the calls on Saturdays, he said Whittingham’s influence has shaped the way he approaches the job.
“I've watched this defense over the last 25 years,” Hill explained. “I saw the adjustments that Coach Whittingham made when he was the D-coordinator, and the tweaks and changes.
Most of the time, we've already been through something similar, and you try not to reinvent the wheel in the heat of the moment. You got to stick to the basics and do stuff to get the players settled down into things they already know.”
That background, paired with Michigan’s talent and the early signs from practice, has Hill positioned to build exactly what the program wants: an elite defense.
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Michigan Faces A Late Roster Decision It May Be Smart To Avoid
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For Michigan, the practical question is whether to make room for any of those players at a late stage in roster building. Head coach Kyle Whittingham has already indicated the program does not plan to pursue anyone from that Class of 2022 group, a stance that may spare the Wolverines from chasing a complicated market and reshuffling for a short-term add that might not fit the long view. [Read more 🡒]