Jay Hill Expected to Join Michigan as Defensive Coordinator Under Kyle Whittingham
ORLANDO, Fla. - Kyle Whittingham hasn’t wasted any time shaping his vision for Michigan football. Just hours after being formally introduced as the Wolverines’ new head coach, his first major hire appears to be in motion. According to reports, Michigan is planning to bring in BYU’s Jay Hill as its next defensive coordinator.
If the move becomes official, it would mark a reunion nearly two decades in the making. Hill played under Whittingham at Utah in the late '90s and later spent over a decade on his staff in Salt Lake City. Now, the two appear poised to team up again-this time in Ann Arbor, with Hill taking over one of the most high-profile defensive units in college football.
Hill’s Defensive Resume Speaks for Itself
Hill, 50, has been BYU’s defensive coordinator and associate head coach since 2023. And in just three seasons, he's orchestrated one of the more impressive defensive turnarounds in the country.
When he arrived, the Cougars ranked 109th in total defense. By year two, they’d jumped all the way to 13th.
This past season, they settled at 35th-still a massive improvement from where they started.
Scoring defense tells a similar story. BYU went from 99th in points allowed to 18th in 2024 and 22nd this season.
That kind of leap isn’t just about scheme-it’s about culture, discipline, and buy-in. Hill’s defenses didn’t just improve statistically; they played with an edge and a sense of purpose that mirrored their coordinator’s intensity.
The most recent example? BYU’s 25-21 win over Georgia Tech in Orlando on Saturday night.
The Cougars pitched a second-half shutout, clamping down when it mattered most. That kind of in-game adjustment and resilience is exactly what Michigan fans will hope to see from Hill's unit in the Big Ten.
A Proven Leader at Every Level
Before his stint at BYU, Hill spent nine seasons as the head coach at Weber State, where he transformed a struggling FCS program into a perennial contender. The Wildcats had gone just 4-19 in the two years before his arrival.
After a tough 2-10 first season in 2014, Hill led Weber State to a 66-29 record over the next eight years. That run included four straight Big Sky titles from 2017 to 2020 and five top-10 FCS finishes in his final six seasons.
Hill’s coaching roots trace back to Utah, where he served on Whittingham’s staff from 2001 to 2013. He wore a lot of hats during that stretch-coaching cornerbacks, tight ends, running backs, and coordinating special teams every season. That versatility speaks to a coach who understands the game from multiple angles and knows how to connect with players across the roster.
Transition in Ann Arbor
If Hill does step into the defensive coordinator role, he’ll be replacing Wink Martindale, who guided the Wolverines’ defense over the past two seasons. Under Martindale, Michigan continued its tradition of defensive excellence, consistently producing NFL-ready talent and ranking among the nation’s top units.
But as is often the case in coaching, change comes with the territory. Martindale acknowledged the emotional toll of the transition when speaking to reporters Sunday morning.
“I don't know if 'handled it' is the right word,” Martindale said. “It's a tough situation… It's hard because of not only the relationships that you have - we've become family… There’s little ones that have to be uprooted from school and things like that. It sucks.”
Coaching changes often ripple far beyond the field. Families move, kids change schools, and the bonds built over years of grind and game planning are suddenly put to the test. It's the human side of the sport that often goes unseen, but it’s very real for those involved.
Whittingham Sets the Tone
Whittingham, who met with Michigan’s current coaching staff Saturday night, was transparent about the uncertainty facing the assistants.
"I'm being honest with them… they know the deal," he said. "What really sucks is you can win nine games, possibly 10, and be out of a job. That’s just the reality."
Still, Whittingham left the door open for continuity, saying he expects a few current assistants to remain on staff, though he didn’t name names.
"The key is to get guys you trust, get guys you're familiar with, and people who are familiar with what I expect," Whittingham said. "At the same time… there’s some excellent coaches on the staff right now… most likely there will be a few coaches that stay on."
What This Means for Michigan
Bringing in Jay Hill would be a strong first step for Whittingham as he reshapes the Wolverines’ identity. Hill has proven he can elevate a defense, lead a program, and build a winning culture. He’s done it at the FCS level, he’s done it in the Big 12, and now he may get the chance to do it in the Big Ten.
For Michigan, the hire would signal a commitment to continuity in defensive excellence, even amid change at the top. Whittingham knows what it takes to win, and if Hill is his first call, that tells you a lot about the kind of program he wants to build in Ann Arbor.