Both Hill and Gilford accepted positions to coach at Michigan under former Utah Head Coach Kyle Whittingham at the turn of the new year. Also receiving a promotion was BYU Defensive Line Coach Sione Po’uha, who was named Associate Head Coach, a position that was also held by Hill over the last three seasons in Provo.

“I’m pleased to announce the promotions of Kelly Poppinga as our defensive coordinator and Sione Po’uhaas the associate head coach, and welcome Demario Warren to BYU as our defensive pass game coordinator and cornerbacks coach,” said BYU Head Coach Kalani Sitake in a press release. We have a lot of quality coaches in our program, and I’m proud of their collaborative efforts over the past few years and the momentum we have been building as a staff. ”

Poppinga previously served as both BYU’s Defensive End Coach and as Special Teams Coordinator. Warren comes to BYU from Boise State where he served as that program’s cornerbacks coach. Prior to joining the Bronco’s staff, Warren served as head coach at Southern Utah University.

“I’m confident Kelly and Sione will be a great benefit to our players in these new roles as we continue to find ways to help our players improve and elevate the success of BYU football,” Sitake said. “I’m excited to add Demario to our defensive staff. He has experience both as a head coach and a defensive coordinator and is known for his expertise in the secondary, developing young talent and being a great recruiter.”

Courtesy BYU Photo

Poppinga played for BYU from 2006-2007 and was a graduate assistant coach at BYU in 2010. From there he’s held coaching positions at Virginia and Boise State, along with his experience coaching for the Cougars.

“Kelly is primed and ready for the responsibility to be our defensive coordinator, and it’s my honor to give him this opportunity,” Sitake said. “His leadership, attention to detail and experience as a coordinator has been apparent working on our defensive staff and as our special teams coordinator the past three years since his return to BYU.”

“My family and I are extremely blessed to be at BYU and work for Kalani,” Poppinga added. “I am thankful for this opportunity Kalani has given me to be the steward over a great defensive unit. I feel that the past 17 years of my life in this career have prepared me for this moment. Our players and staff have built a great defense over the past few years, and we look forward to competing for and winning championships in the years to come.”

Po’uha played for Utah before playing eight seasons for the New York Jets. He then moved on to hold coaching positions at both Utah and Navy before joining BYU’s staff prior to the 2023 season.

“Sione is an exceptional coach and advisor who I’m eager to have in this overall leadership role in our program,” Sitake said. “Sione is a great man and natural leader for our young men on and off the field. I’m excited about having Sione in this expanded role, not only because of his football knowledge and expertise as a coach and NFL player but also because he is one of the best teachers of program culture that I know and is extremely capable of leading our program.”

Courtesy BYU Photo

“My family and I are thankful to Kalani and the administration for this opportunity to teach, build and serve the great young men in this football program,” Po’uha added. “BYU has been such a blessing to our family, and this is another opportunity for us to magnify the mission for our young men to ‘enter to learn, go forth to serve.'”

As for Warren, BYU’s press release states:

A native of Fairfield, California, Warren joins the Cougar defensive staff with 18 years of experience, including six seasons as a head coach at Southern Utah. He comes to BYU from Boise State, where he has coached cornerbacks the past four seasons and helped the Broncos win three consecutive Mountain West championships (2023, 2024 and 2025) and reach the 2024 College Football Playoff Quarterfinals.

“Demario is an outstanding coach with great experience in all phases of the game, including six years as the head coach at Southern Utah and a ton of experience coaching defensive backs.” Sitake said. “He was the defensive coordinator when Jernaro (Gilford) became the SUU corners coach. I’m excited to have Demario coming to BYU to coordinate our pass game defense and continue our outstanding coaching and player development at the cornerback position.”

“I have grown so much as a coach and person in Boise, and I am grateful for Coach Danielson and the Bronco Family for an amazing experience,” Warren added. “I have admired Kalani for a long time. When he called to explain his vision for the BYU program and the opportunities ahead, my family and I knew this was a situation we could not pass up. We are blessed to have the opportunity to be part of this prestigious university and football program.”

Nate Edwards, BYU Photo

The final coaching hire will be for the safety position to replace Hill in that capacity.