The heart of the defense: How Jay Hill’s health scare strengthened BYU football

On August 29, 2024, just days before BYU football’s home opener against Southern Illinois at LaVell Edwards Stadium, everything changed for defensive coordinator Jay Hill.

What should have been a routine day of game-week prep became a life-threatening emergency. Hill suffered a heart attack, a jarring event that rippled far beyond his personal life and into the soul of the Cougar defense.

“Leaving Thursday practice before the first game of the season is usually so exciting … Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be having a heart attack at age 49,” Hill wrote on X, formerly Twitter, the morning of the game.

While he wasn’t on the sidelines that Saturday, Hill’s presence loomed large — and so did the impact of his absence.

Despite the medical scare, Hill remained closely involved with the team throughout the season.

“I’m feeling good, feeling much better,” he told The Daily Universe in March. “Not that I really didn’t feel bad leading up to the heart attack, but I feel fine.”

He acknowledged that some aspects of his lifestyle had changed, but not drastically.

“I’m trying to eat better … I do different kinds of workouts, like I do a bit more walking," he said. "But it’s really not that different. I’m just trying to stay in shape and eat right.”

The medical emergency forced Hill off the field and into the booth — coaching from the box, rather than the sideline. That change, though subtle to fans, made a big difference behind the scenes.

“Well, I see things better,” Hill said. “That gives me an opportunity to maybe make some adjustments quicker … I have phenomenal assistant coaches on the defensive side of the ball and I was able to rely on them more and trust them to get their jobs done.”

That increased trust created space for his assistants to step up and lead. Defensive ends coach and special teams coordinator, Kelly Poppinga recalled the team’s reaction in real time.

“We showed up on Friday and to our knowledge everything was okay, and we have a staff meeting and Kalani tells us that Jay had some health issues,” Poppinga said during a "Coordinators Corner" interview with Greg Wrubell. “It was good to have him in the box and have him at the game, and I think the players were excited.”

For the players, the news was not just shocking — it was deeply motivating.

Linebacker Isaiah Glasker remembered how the team found out.

“I remember them telling us the next day that Friday night it happened,” he said. “But the crazy thing is he talked to us on the phone the same day telling us, ‘If I could be out there, I’ll come.’”

Glasker smiled. “I was surprised to see him at the game,” he said.

Seeing their coach — just days removed from a serious medical emergency — still committed to being present changed the energy in the locker room and on the field.

“It definitely made us wanna work harder,” Glasker said. “Just because we see all the work that he puts in for us … especially when this happened and he was still trying to come see us. It was inspiration.”

While Hill remained as sharp as ever tactically, some of the communication flow naturally shifted. Glasker and fellow linebacker Jack Kelly both had helmet communication with Hill, but Glasker noted, “I’m gonna be real. He didn’t really use it that much. He probably maybe talked to me one time on the headset, but nothing crazy … during the game.”

Instead of micromanaging from a distance, Hill empowered the players to take greater ownership.

“They took ownership, especially in practices,” Hill said. “They had a little different format where I wasn’t always on the field. But the players had to take ownership too on everything they were doing … they were just outstanding … saying no matter what happened with coach Hill, we’re gonna be successful — and that’s really what happened.”

That leadership shift became a defining theme of the season. The players' growth — emotionally, mentally, and strategically — reflected the confidence and foundation that Hill had built long before the heart attack. The defensive unit, under his guidance, not only adapted but matured.

Football is emotional and physical, sure, but it’s also mental. The players were able to adapt so quickly to something that could’ve thrown off their rhythm completely.

BYU’s defense responded by locking in. The players embraced the complexity of Hill’s system while carrying a deeper sense of responsibility for its execution. The heart attack, oddly enough, became a catalyst — not a setback. Hill’s move to the booth gave him a new vantage point, and it also became a metaphor for his evolving role: less hands-on in the moment, but no less influential.

“If I had to make a decision today,” Hill said, “I would probably lean towards being in the box.”

That decision suggests that what started as a necessity might become a new normal, allowing Hill to maximize his strengths and continue mentoring from a place of clarity and calm.

More than just strategy and play-calling, Hill’s story is about culture. His vulnerability in the face of health challenges, and his decision to keep showing up, earned him even more respect from his players—something already hard to come by for a veteran coach.

In a sport where toughness is often measured in hits and tackles, Jay Hill showed that quiet perseverance, humility, and delegation could be just as powerful. His heart may have faltered for a moment — but his impact on BYU’s defense only grew stronger.