Social Media Reacts To BYU Football Hiring Jay Hill

PROVO, Utah – BYU football has their man to lead the Cougar defense into the Big 12. That man is Jay Hill from Weber State.

Hill joins Kalani Sitake’s staff as the Associate Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator. Reports have indicated a strong financial commitment to Hill that reaches nearly $1 million.

“I’m very excited to be joining Kalani and the rest of the BYU staff,” Jay Hill said. “They have an outstanding program that wins on and off the field. BYU’s brand is nationally recognized and respected, and I can’t wait to get to coaching, recruiting and winning in the Big 12.”

BYU head coach Kalani Sitake has a lot of familiarity with Hill from their time at the University of Utah together on Kyle Whittingham’s staff.

“I am pleased to announce Jay Hill as our associate head coach and new defensive coordinator,” BYU head coach Kalani Sitake said. “Jay is a leader. I have worked with Jay for nine years while we were at Utah together, so I know first-hand how like-minded we are defensively, how great of a recruiter he is and how committed he is to developing players. He has done an amazing job everywhere he has been, including building and leading the Weber State program most recently, and I’m excited to now have him here at BYU.”

The hiring of Hill began coming out on Tuesday night, and then it became official on Wednesday. Since reports started to emerge of Hill’s hiring, social media began firing up the thoughts on BYU tabbing Weber State’s all-time winningest coach to guide an embattled defense.

In an era of social media where most topics are divisive, the hiring of Hill has been universally praised.

6️⃣8️⃣ wins, the most in school history
8️⃣ straight winning seasons
6️⃣ FCS Playoff appearances
4️⃣ Big Sky Championships
4️⃣ 10 win seasons

and impacted hundreds of Wildcat student-athletes!

THANK YOU JAY HILL for nine Great, Great, Great seasons at Weber State! #WeAreWeber pic.twitter.com/t5n6xK6cBC

— Weber State Football 🏈 (@weberstatefb) December 7, 2022

#BYU‘s new Associate Head Coach & Defensive Coordinator, @CoachJayHill. #BYUFootball #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/GZx7Fm4Dg0

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 7, 2022

I was fortunate to see how this man operates for 4 straight years. I grew so much as a coach because of him, and I’m so blessed to be working alongside side him once again. Believe me when I say, he’s a GREAT one! #GoCougs 🤙🏽 https://t.co/pGOHVmLmah

— Fesi Sitake (@fsitake) December 7, 2022

@CoachJayHill wore blue to begin his collegiate career in 1997 at Ricks Junior College, which is now known as BYU-Idaho pic.twitter.com/FfYPxMMsA2

— 🌹 Golden Whetman 🌹 (@dakicker11) December 7, 2022

Great pickup right here! Much love to @CoachJayHill https://t.co/nJRMD1ZxuZ

— Pro-Tech-Trenches (@PTrenches) December 7, 2022

Congrats @CoachJayHill https://t.co/fxIgo75t9u

— Casey Evans (@evanscasey) December 7, 2022

Congratulations @CoachJayHill this is Big Time for BYU COUGARS FOOTBALL! https://t.co/j70gMhxeo2

— Ben Moa (@BenMoa4) December 7, 2022

Huge Hire For @BYUfootball!

Congrats @CoachJayHill! So happy for you and your family man! Love you brotha 🤝🏾

(I’ll always know where your true allegiance is 👀😂) https://t.co/eCbjPjXhPf

— Isaac Asiata (@AsiataFive4) December 7, 2022

Welcome @CoachJayHill! https://t.co/kmHdhlG42S

— Siale Tuiteelagi Esera (@EseraSiale) December 7, 2022

Congrats to Jay Hill. Such a great Coach and an even better person!

— Steve Tate (@tate28) December 7, 2022

So far Jay Hill and Kelly Poppinga? I like where this is headed! Does BYU transition back to a 3-4? Exciting changes ahead…

— David Nixon (@D_Nixon) December 7, 2022

BYU making big-time financial commitment to Jay Hill. Probably the highest they’ve offered an assistant.

— Patrick Kinahan (@PKKinahan) December 7, 2022

Let’s go! @CoachJayHill welcome to @BYUfootball! You have my support! #GoCougs

— Dr. Derwin L. Gray (@DerwinLGray) December 7, 2022

I’d love Jay Hill to get on the phone with a player or 2 that has entered the portal and give them the spill.
Coach Hill is gold.
Check that. I’d have his wife that fought off cancer make the call. No one is saying no to her.
Jay would bring a great family to Provo.

— Hans Olsen (@975Hans) December 7, 2022

Bringing in Jay Hill is a home run hire for #BYU. He’s had excellent defenses and was the target Kalani Sitake was after for weeks. #BYUFootball

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) December 7, 2022

#BYU enters a big recruiting weekend with its defensive coordinator in place. Similar to when Kalani hired Jeff Grimes and introduced him before the OV weekend with Zach Wilson.

Timing works out. Now it’s about selling the vision to recruits/transfer portal on a Big 12 future.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) December 7, 2022

Choose to believe this or not.

Former Utah & BYU players have tremendous respect for each others programs.

That’s how Whitt coaches vs his alma mater, why Jay Hill would coach AT his rival school, etc.

— 🌹 Golden Whetman 🌹 (@dakicker11) December 7, 2022

When I was a brand new, 25 yr old track coach @ Weber, Jay Hill had to walk past my office to get to his.

Without fail, if he saw me in my office, he’d say hello.

Always meant a lot to me that he even cared.

Jay’s not only a great coach but better person.

HUGE get for BYU!

— Isaac Wood (@isaacegbertwood) December 7, 2022

Good reminder of Jay Hill’s one handed snag at Wrigley four years ago. https://t.co/lZ1WpQlc7O

— Scott Garrard (@ScottyGZone) December 7, 2022

I was lucky enough to cover the first four years of the Jay Hill era while working at the Standard. Always a class act and was incredibly respectful and professional. While I’m bummed about the move, I wish him nothing but the best. Cougs got a great x3 one.

— Brandon Garside (@BrandonGarside) December 7, 2022

LESSGEDIT COACH!!!

GO COUGS🤟🏾 https://t.co/kO7v206khj

— #IamJackDamuni 🇫🇯 (@JackDamuni) December 7, 2022

What? We got Jay Hill?!!! Chee hoo! Let's go!!!!! #GOCOUGS

— Alema Fitisemanu (@AlemaFitisemanu) December 7, 2022

WE LIVE BABY🤙🏾💯 @CoachJayHill https://t.co/evoz9QzpK0

— Logan Lutui (@logan_lutui) December 7, 2022

🤙🏾 @CoachJayHill https://t.co/OcR5qien3D

— C4LEB (@Calebjc_21) December 7, 2022

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s BYU football coverage on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.

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