Michigan Wolverines Assemble New Defensive Coaching Staff

The Michigan Wolverines have officially announced the members of their new defensive coaching staff, marking a significant step in the program’s preparation for the upcoming season. Head coach Kyle Whittingham has made several key hires, ensuring that each position on the defense is covered by experienced and knowledgeable coaches.

Defensive Coordinator: Jay Hill

Jay Hill has been named as the defensive coordinator for the Wolverines. He officially joined the program on Friday and brings a wealth of experience to the role. Hill began his coaching career at Utah under Whittingham, starting as a graduate assistant in 2001. Over the years, he worked his way up through various roles, including coaching cornerbacks, tight ends, and running backs. He also coordinated the special teams from 2007 to 2013. In 2014, he took over as head coach at Weber State, where he won four Big Sky Championships and amassed a 68-39 record over nine seasons.

Hill was later hired by BYU in 2023 as its defensive coordinator and associate head coach under head coach Kalani Sitake. His units ranked 94th, 21st, and 22nd in SP+ defensive efficiency. The Cougars finished with an 11-2 record last season and a 12-2 record this year after a win over Georgia Tech in the Pop Tarts Bowl on December 27.

Defensive Backs Coach: Jernaro Gilford

Jernaro Gilford has been appointed as the defensive backs coach. He has been with BYU since 2016, where he coached the cornerbacks and added the title of pass game coordinator this past season. Prior to that, he coached the secondary at Southern Utah (2014-15) and served as a graduate assistant with cornerbacks and special teams at Whitter College in 2012-13.

Defensive Ends/Edge Rushers Coach: Lewis Powell

Lewis Powell will be responsible for coaching the defensive ends and edge rushers. Powell spent 11 years at Utah working under Whittingham, with 10 of those years dedicated to coaching the defensive line. He played the position himself from 2001 to 2003 with the Utes. In his first season on staff, he coached the tight ends.

Powell has had success in developing talent, with several All-Conference First Team honorees under his guidance. These include Hunter Dimick (2016), Bradlee Anae (2018-19), Leki Fotu (2018-19), Mika Tafua (2021), Gabe Reid (2022), Jonah Elliss (2023), and Van Fillinger (2024). Anae (2019) and Elliss (2023) were also named consensus All-America.

Linebacker Coach: Alex Whittingham

Alex Whittingham, the son of Kyle Whittingham and nephew of tight ends coach Freddie Whittingham, will coach the linebacker position. He has been part of the Kansas City Chiefs organization for eight years, serving as a defensive assistant (2018, 2024), a defensive quality control coach (2019, 2020-23), and an assistant defensive line coach this past season. During his time with the Chiefs, he was part of five Super Bowl appearances and three championships, working with every position group during his tenure.

Defensive Line Coach: Lou Esposito

Lou Esposito has been retained as the defensive line coach. He has been with the program for the last two seasons and has established himself as one of the best recruiters in the country. Esposito landed five-star EDGE Carter Meadows during the past recruiting cycle, along with talented four-star prospects Titan Davis and McHale Blade. Under his guidance, Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant were first-round picks at defensive tackle in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Special Teams Coach: Kerry Coombs

Kerry Coombs will continue as the special teams coach. He was hired by Sherrone Moore on December 6 to replace JB Brown. Coombs has over four decades of coaching experience in high school, college, and the NFL. Most recently, he was the special teams coordinator and cornerbacks coach at Cincinnati. He also served as a longtime assistant at Ohio State under both Urban Meyer and Ryan Day.

Assistant Analyst: David Denham

David Denham will continue as an analyst for the defensive line. His role will support the coaching staff in evaluating and developing players in this position.

With this new coaching staff in place, the Michigan Wolverines are well-prepared to build on their previous successes and compete at the highest level in the upcoming season.