Report: Michigan has hired Jay Hill as its new defensive coordinator

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Jay Hill is headed east.

Michigan has hired Hill as its new defensive coordinator, according to a Thursday report from Pete Thamel of ESPN.

The move brings an end to Hill’s successful 3-year tenure in the same position at BYU.

Sources: BYU DC Jay Hill has officially agreed to become Michigan’s defensive coordinator. He’d been Kyle Whittingham’s target since he took over at Michigan.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 1, 2026

Hill is now reunited with new Wolverines head coach Kyle Whittingham, who he both played and coached under for 15 combined seasons at the University of Utah.

Since arriving at BYU following the 2022 campaign, Hill transformed the Cougar defense from one of the worst units in the country into one of the best, ranking first within the Big 12 in scoring defense (19.4 points per game) over the past two seasons.

In 2024, BYU led the country in interceptions with 22, and in 2025 the Cougars racked up their highest sack total (30) since 2016.

Prior to his time at BYU, Hill was Weber State’s head coach from 2014-22, going 68-39 with the Wildcats and winning four Big Sky Conference championships.

Under defensive coordinator Wink Martindale this past season, Michigan allowed averages of 312.3 yards and 18.7 points per game. The Wolverines fell 41-27 to Texas in Wednesday’s Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.

With Hill’s departure, BYU head coach Kalani Sitake will now look to fill the newly-vacated defensive coordinator position and retain current Cougar defensive players and coaches.

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