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BYU defensive coordinator Jay Hill talks to his players during practice in Provo on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023.

Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo

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BYU defensive coordinator Jay Hill tosses a beanbag in a game of cornhole with some of the Cougar players at the Cougar Kickoff in Provo on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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BYU coaches (from left) Jay Hill, Kelly Poppinga and Jernaro Gilford check out an update on early signing day in the football offices in Provo on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023.

BYU photo

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BYU coaches (from left) Aaron Roderick, Kalani Sitake and Jay Hill speak on a media teleconference on early signing day in the football offices in Provo on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023.

BYU Photo

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BYU defensive coordinator Jay Hill has a solid coaching résumé, one that includes eight years as the head coach at Weber State, nine years as an assistant coach at the University of Utah and now more than a year as the associate head coach, defensive coordinator and safeties coach at BYU.

All that experience has given Hill an extensive understanding of the game, but he is quick to point out that he still has a lot of things he can improve on, particularly as the Cougars head into their second year in the Big 12.

“I think the familiarity with the offenses is going to help,” Hill said when BYU wrapped up spring camp. “I think my understanding of situational football and knowing play-callers will only get better.”

The evolution that he thinks will make the biggest difference, however, is the one that is happening with his own athletes in Provo.

“My trust in the players and making sure we’re executing what is called is going to go up,” Hill said. “The confidence they have in me will only make us more productive. I think as a whole we should take a huge stride forward. I compare it a little bit to that the first year that we were at Weber State. It kind of feels the same way. The first year wasn’t quite what we wanted and then the next years got better and better and better and better. I see that same future here.”

One of the best players currently on the BYU roster to evaluate how Hill is changing is former Wildcat linebacker Jack Kelly, who played under Hill both at Weber State and now as a Cougar.

He said he’s seeing a different side of his former head coach as he is working with him now.

“He’s definitely showing his personality more,” Kelly said. “He’s able to recruit really well and I like that about him. He’s also able to just focus on one side of the ball. As Weber State’s head coach, he was kind of looking at both the offense and defense. Right now he focuses on studying offenses and how we can get better. They’ve created a lot of new defensive plays. It’s been awesome having him really focused on defense and honing in on that.”

Kelly said he feels like being back with Hill will provide ways for him to take a big step forward as a player.

“I’m always striving to learn and get better, obviously,” Kelly said. “Everything he does is trying to improve us because at the end of the day, he can’t be on the field to see things. He’s trying to teach us everything that we can know so that we’re prepared for Saturdays.”

One of BYU’s top returning players is senior defensive back Jakob Robinson and he said the biggest benefit of Hill’s growth and the evolution of the defense he saw during spring is that guys understand what Hill wants from them.

“He knows every part of the defense, so he knows what you did wrong what you did,” Robinson said. “I know that when he calls a play, he’s like, ‘trust me, I’m putting you there for a reason.’ He wants us to jump something. If someone runs a slant, he trusts that we’ll jump in when we’re in a certain call. I think the biggest thing is just trusting him, trusting our coach who is telling us their technique, and just applying it.”

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