Michigan Football Closing in on BYU’s Jay Hill as Next Defensive Coordinator
ORLANDO, FL - Michigan might not have to look far for its next defensive coordinator - in fact, he may already be in the building.
Sources indicate the Wolverines are “very, very” close to bringing in BYU’s Jay Hill to take over the defensive reins in Ann Arbor. While nothing is official yet, the signs are pointing toward Hill stepping into the same role he’s held at BYU - this time, on one of college football’s biggest stages.
Hill, 50, just wrapped up a strong showing with the Cougars, helping lead the No. 13 team in the country to a Pop-Tarts Bowl win over Georgia Tech on Saturday in Orlando. That’s the same venue where Michigan will face Texas in the Citrus Bowl on Wednesday. If the timing feels convenient, it’s because it just might be.
Hill’s resume is built on years of consistent defensive success. Since joining BYU, he’s served not just as defensive coordinator, but also as associate head coach and safeties coach under Kalani Sitake. Over the past four seasons, he’s helped elevate BYU’s defensive identity in a way that’s drawn national attention.
Before his time in Provo, Hill carved out a legacy at Weber State, where he spent nine seasons as head coach. He didn’t just win - he became the winningest coach in school history.
With a 68-39 record, four Big Sky Conference titles, and six FCS playoff appearances, Hill turned Weber into a perennial contender. His teams were known for physicality, discipline, and a defense-first mentality - traits that align perfectly with what Michigan has built in recent years.
But Hill’s coaching roots stretch even deeper. He spent 12 seasons at Utah (2001-2013), rising from a graduate assistant to special teams coordinator. That tenure overlapped with Kyle Whittingham’s rise in Salt Lake City, and Hill was part of the infrastructure that helped establish Utah as a defensive powerhouse in the Mountain West and, eventually, the Pac-12.
Born in Lehi, Utah, Hill is a Beehive State native through and through. From his playing days in Salt Lake City to coaching stops in Ogden and Provo, he’s spent his entire football life in Utah. A move to Michigan would mark a major shift - geographically and professionally - but it also looks like a natural next step for a coach with Power Five pedigree and a proven track record.
Following BYU’s bowl win, Sitake was asked about the swirling rumors linking Hill to Michigan. He didn’t offer much, simply saying that it’s Hill’s news to share when the time is right.
For now, Michigan fans will keep an eye on the Citrus Bowl - and perhaps just as closely, on who’s walking the sidelines nearby. If the Wolverines do land Hill, they’re not just getting a defensive coordinator. They’re getting a builder, a teacher, and a coach who’s earned every opportunity that’s come his way.