Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports reported early Sunday morning that BYU defensive coordinator Jay Hill is nearing a deal to become Michigan’s next defensive coordinator.
If the move becomes official, Hill would reunite with longtime friend Kyle Whittingham, whom he played for and coached under during a 15-year stretch at Utah.
Hill has spent the past three seasons running BYU’s defense, and the results speak for themselves. Over the last two years, the Cougars ranked first in the Big 12 in scoring defense, allowing just 19.4 points per game. His impact on BYU’s rise from the bottom of the Big 12 to conference title contender has been undeniable.
Losing Hill would be a tough pill to swallow for coach Kalani Sitake and BYU fans alike. That said, all hope should not be lost.
Coaching turnover is part of the cost of success in college football. Top tier programs like Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia, and Oregon deal with it every single year.
If BYU expects to sustain double-digit win seasons and contend for College Football Playoff berths on a regular basis, this is a challenge it must be willing to absorb.
After leading BYU to the Big 12 Championship game and its first 12-win season in nearly 25 years, Sitake has earned recognition as one of the top coaches in the conference and arguably the country. With an improved NIL pool and increased resources dedicated to retaining and attracting staff, BYU is no longer operating from a position of scarcity.
Losing Hill hurts, but it does not have to reset expectations.
No replacement names have surfaced publicly yet, but one stands out as a natural fit. Kelly Poppinga should be firmly in the conversation.
Poppinga played linebacker at BYU and earned All-MWC honors from 2006 to 2007 before spending time in the NFL in 2008. He returned to Provo in 2009, beginning his coaching career as a defensive intern.
Since then, Poppinga has built an extensive resume on the defensive side of the ball, highlighted by his time as co-defensive coordinator at Virginia, where the Cavaliers reached the ACC Championship game in 2019.
For the past four seasons, Poppinga has been back at BYU as the special teams coordinator and defensive ends coach.
He knows the players. He knows the system. He understands the expectations and the culture of the program. With 15 plus years of coaching experience, he brings continuity to a program on the rise.
If BYU is looking for true stability, Poppinga makes total sense. He is competent, connected, and beloved within the building by players and coaches alike.
If Jay Hill’s departure becomes official, promoting from within may be the cleanest way for BYU to keep its defensive momentum intact.