The Michigan Wolverines hired defensive coordinator Jay Hill, who is fresh off a successful stint at BYU and will reunite with head coach Kyle Whittingham after previously coaching under him at Utah.
Yesterday,
we discussed the pros and cons of Michigan’s new offensive coordinator Jason Beck. Now, here are three pros and two cons of Michigan hiring Hill.
Pro: Familiarity with Kyle Whittingham’s approach
Speaking of his reunion with Michigan’s head coach, it can’t be understated just how critical Hill’s familiarity with Whittingham’s coaching philosophy and system will be moving forward. Hill played for Whittingham at Utah in the late 1990s and spent over a decade coaching under him — a combined 15 years that deeply embedded Whittingham’s defensive principles in Hill’s approach. That continuity should help smooth Hill’s transition to Michigan, providing a similar alignment with Whittingham’s vision.
Con: Step up in competition could come with growing pains
Even though his defenses were successful at BYU in the Big 12 and for nearly a decade as head coach at Weber State in the FCS, the Big Ten is going to be a heightened level of competition that could come with growing pains. It would not surprise if there was an adjustment period as he gets used to coaching against tougher competition, considering the Big Ten is filled with some of the nation’s premier players and offensive play callers.
Pro: Departure from Baltimore Ravens-style system
Hill’s arrival also represents a departure from the Baltimore Ravens–style defensive system that Michigan has played since 2021. While that scheme produced plenty of success under previous coordinators, it seemed like it was time for a change. Hill’s scheme — built around coverage versatility, pre-snap disguises and a balanced mix of coverages — will give the Wolverines a fresh look that could potentially develop into one of the nation’s most productive units.
Con: Returning players will be tasked with learning a new scheme
Another challenge with swapping defensive coordinators will be the learning curve for returning players. As we previously mentioned, Hill’s system differs from what the players are accustomed to, so adapting to new terminology, responsibility variations and alignment principles will require a lot of attention this offseason.
Pro: This defense has a tendency to create takeaways
A clear strength of Hill’s tenure at BYU was his ability to create takeaways at a high rate. Under his leadership, BYU defense’s became one of the most opportunistic units in the country – leading the FBS with 22 interceptions and ranking fourth in the nation with 31 turnovers forced in 2024. Hill’s defense recorded 75 takeaways in his three seasons, which was a stark contract to Michigan’s production (37 takeaways) in two years under Wink Martindale.
