BYU’s Kalani Sitake Issues Statement Following Jay Hill’s Departure For Michigan
Jan 2, 2026, 11:16 AM
BYU football head coach Kalani Sitake issues a statement after Jay Hill exits the program. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
(Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
PROVO, Utah – BYU football head coach Kalani Sitake needs a new defensive coordinator.
On Friday, it became official that Jay Hill is now the Michigan defensive coordinator on Kyle Whittingham’s coaching staff.
Hill leaves BYU, where he coached two Top 25 scoring defenses. In addition to leading the defense, Hill served as Kalani Sitake’s associate head coach.
Kalani Sitake issued a statement after Michigan hired Jay Hill
Grateful for everything Jay Hill brought to this program. A great coach and an even better man.
BYU Football is built to keep climbing. On to 2026. pic.twitter.com/Eh2dvh7Dv6
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) January 2, 2026
Following the announcement, Sitake, who recently signed a long-term extension as BYU’s head coach, issued a statement regarding Hill’s departure.
“I want to express my sincere appreciation to Jay Hill for all he’s done for BYU football over the last three years. He’s a great coach and I wish him the best in his new endeavor. Our football program is in a great place as we look to build on the success of the past two seasons with all the talent we have returning in 2026.
“I’m excited about the collaborative efforts of our defensive coaches over the past few years and the momentum we have been building as a staff.
“We have a lot of quality coaches in our program and I’m proud of their efforts. We’ll make the necessary staff adjustments soon, as we continue to find ways to help our players improve and elevate the success of BYU football.”
BYU football moves forward
Sitake has guided BYU as the winningest Big 12 program in the 16-team era of the league over the past two seasons with 23 wins. In 2025, BYU finished with a 12-2 record and a win in the Pop-Tarts Bowl over No. 22 Georgia Tech.
Sitake is now tasked with replacing Jay Hill and hiring a new defensive coordinator. Whoever ends up getting the nod, it will be the third defensive coordinator in the Kalani Sitake era at BYU (since 2016).
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast daily on KSL Sports YouTube and KSL NewsRadio (SUBSCRIBE). Harper also co-hosts Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL NewsRadio.
Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU athletics in the Big 12 Conference on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram: @Mitch_Harper.
