Weber State University Athletics
Football
Hill, Jay
Jay Hill
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- jayhill@weber.edu
- Season:
- 9th
The 2022 season was the ninth season for Jay Hill as head coach of the Weber State football pgroam. Hill has transformed the Wildcat program and is Weber State’s all-time leader in coaching wins. He has led the Wildcats to four Big Sky titles and six trips to the FCS Playoffs.
The Wildcats have won 10 or more games in four of the last five full seasons and have been ranked as high as second in the nation, the highest in school history. He has also led Weber State to eight-straight winning seasons.
After nine seasons, Hill has a career record of 68-39 at Weber State. In 2022, he reached his 100th career game and has now coached more games than any coach in WSU history. In 2021, Hill became the Weber State all-time leader in career coaching victories.
His .636 winning percentage is the second-highest winning percentage in Weber State history. He also has a record of 50-19 (.725) in Big Sky Conference games, the best percentage in school history.
Hill has also coached 16 players to All-America honors 26 times at Weber State. The Wildcats have also earned 91 Big Sky All-Conference honors and multiple Academic All-Big Sky honors under Hill’s leadership.
During the 2022 season, Weber State posted a 10-3 record and advanced to the second round of the FCS Playoffs. The season was highlighted by Weber State’s first FBS win in 29 years as the Wildcats beat Utah State 35-7 in Logan. WSU started the season at 6-0, tied for the best start in school history. The 'Cats were nationally ranked all season and had 15 players earn All-Big Sky honors.
During the 2021 season, Weber State again achieved a winning record, finishing 6-5 overall and 5-3 in Big Sky play. The Wildcats closed the season winning four of their last five games. Hill coached 11 players to Big Sky All-Conference honors during the season, including five players on the first team.
During the spring 2021 season, Hill led the Wildcats to a fourth straight conference title, as Weber State became just the second school to ever capture four straight conference championships. WSU finished with a perfect 5-0 Big Sky record in the shortened season and captured the first outright title in school history. Weber State was also ranked as high as second in the nation during the year, the highest ranking in school history. The Wildcats also advanced to the FCS Playoffs for the fifth straight season.
Hill was honored as the Big Sky Coach of the Year and the AFCA Region 5 Coach of the Year for the spring 2021 season.
WSU also had four All-Americans and led the conference with 13 all-conference performers, including nine players on the first team.
In 2019, he guided the Wildcats to another Big Sky title and a trip to the semifinals of the FCS Playoffs for the first time in school history. The Wildcats also finished third in the nation in the final polls.
After the 2019 regular season, he was named the AFCA Region 5 Coach of the Year.
Hill has coached the Wildcat defense, which has been one of the best in the country in the last few seasons. Weber State has led the Big Sky in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense and interceptions in several of the last few seasons.
In 2018, Weber State had another record-setting season as the Wildcats finished 10-3, winning 10 games in back-to-back seasons for the first time ever. Weber State also repeated as Big Sky champions with a 7-1 conference record for the first time ever. The Wildcats earned their first ever seed in the FCS Playoffs as they earned the No. 2 seed and advanced to the quarterfinals for the second-straight season. Weber State was ranked as high as third in the nation, the highest ranking ever, and finished the year ranked sixth in the country.
The Wildcats also had 19 players that earned All-Big Sky honors, including a school-record 13 players named to the first team. Seven Wildcats, Josh Davis, Brady May, Iosua Opeta, Adam Rodriguez, Rashid Shaheed, Filipe Sitake and LeGrand Toia, all earned All-America honors. Davis also won the Jerry Rice Award as the National Freshman of the Year.
In 2017, Hill was named the Utah Coach of the Year as part of the Governor’s State of Sport Awards after he guided Weber State to its best season in school history. The Wildcats won the Big Sky Conference title, won a school-record 11 games, won two games in the FCS Playoffs and were ranked in the top five in the nation, the highest ranking in school history. Weber State also had eight players earn All-American honors, the most ever, and had 17 players earn Big Sky All-Conference honors, including a league-best eight on the first team.
Hill engineered the Wildcat defense that was one of the best in the country in 2017. Weber State finished in the top 10 in the country in interceptions, turnovers gained and red zone defense. The Wildcats led the Big Sky in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense, interceptions, pass efficiency defense and red zone defense.
In 2017, eight Wildcats earned All-American honors, the most in a season in WSU history. Taron Johnson and Andrew Vollert were consensus All-Americans with Xequille Harry, Brady May, Iosua Opeta, Rashid Shaheed, LeGrand Toia and Trey Tuttle also earning All-America honors. Johnson was named the Big Sky Defensive MVP and was drafted in the fourth round of the NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills.
Hill, 46, was named the 11th head coach in Weber State football history in December 2013. In his first season of 2014, Hill led the Wildcats to a 2-10 overall record and a 2-6 mark in Big Sky play. Under his direction, Weber State saw dramatic improvements statistically and finished the season in the top third in the Big Sky in several categories. He also coached 11 Wildcats that earned Big Sky All-Conference honors.
In 2015, Hill guided the Wildcats to a 6-5 overall record and a 5-3 record in Big Sky play. It was Weber State’s first winning season in five years and included several key victories. The Wildcats picked up a 24-21 overtime in at Montana, their first win in Missoula since 1987. Weber State also finished the year 4-1 at home with wins over Sacramento State, North Dakota, UC Davis and Idaho State. WSU had 10 players earn Big Sky All-Conference honors and Joe Hawkins earned All-American honors. Weber State also led the Big Sky in total defense under Hill’s leadership.
In 2016, Hill guided Weber State to a 7-5 record. The Wildcats finished 6-2 in Big Sky Conference play, finishing third in the conference standings, Weber State’s highest finish since 2009. Weber State also qualified for the FCS Playoffs for the first time since 2009. The Wildcats were also ranked nationally during the season for the first time in six years.
Weber State’s defense led the Big Sky in passing defense. During the season the ‘Cats won five-straight games, including a dramatic comeback with at Southern Utah, where the Wildcats rallied for a 22-point deficit in the final eight minutes of the game. Weber State also posted back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in six years. The Wildcats had 13 players earn Big Sky All-Conference honors, including Andrew Vollert and Tre’von Johnson and the first team. Vollert was also named an All-American at Weber State.
Hill was a longtime assistant coach at the University of Utah, and came to WSU with a reputation as one of the top recruiters in the West and has spent time working for three different head coaches at Utah.
He spent 13 years (2001-13) at Utah, including the last nine seasons as a full-time assistant coach under Kyle Whittingham. Prior to that, he spent four years as a graduate assistant and administrative assistant with the Utes under legendary coaches Ron McBride and Urban Meyer.
The Lehi, Utah native played college football at Ricks Junior College, where he earned junior college All-American honors at cornerback. He went on to play two seasons (1998-99) at Utah under Ron McBride. As a senior he led the Mountain West in interceptions, was named Utah’s Defensive MVP and earned second team All-Conference honors. He later played briefly in the XFL and signed free agent contracts with the Buffalo Bills and New York Giants.
After his playing career he spent three seasons as a graduate assistant coach and one year as an administrative assistant, working for McBride and Meyer.
In 2005, he became a full-time assistant coach under Whittingham. All nine seasons he spent at Utah he worked as the special teams coordinator. He also coached on offense and defense, coaching the cornerbacks (2005-06; 2010-11), running backs (2012) and tight ends (2007-09; 2013).
Utah’s special teams excelled under Hill. In 2006 the Utes led the nation in net punting. They led the Mountain West in kickoff coverage four straight seasons and led the Pac-12 in the category in 2011, Utah’s first year in the conference. In 2012 Utah was sixth in the nation in kick return average and this past season the Utes again led the Pac-12 in net punting and finished 10th in the nation. In 2008 Hill was a finalist for the FootballScoop Special Teams Coordinator of the Year.
In his career at Utah, Hill served as the position coach for five All-Americans: defensive back Eric Weddle in 2006, punter Louie Sakoda in 2007, Sakoda as a place kicker in 2008, punt returner Shaky Smithson in 2010 and kick returner Reggie Dunn in 2012. Weddle was drafted in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers and is a Pro Bowl safety. Sakoda, the only unanimous consensus All-American in Utah football history, was a Lou Groza and Ray Guy finalist in 2008. Smithson led the nation in punt returns yards and average in 2010. Hill also mentored NFL draft picks Sean Smith, Brice McCain, R.J. Stanford and Brandon Burton.
During his tenure with the Utes, Hill became acclaimed as a top recruiter. Rivals.com named him to its “Class of 2009 Top 25 Recruiters” and named him one of the Top 10 Recruiters in the Pac-12 in 2012.
Hill earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish in 2000 from Utah and earned his master’s degree in ESS/Sports Psychology in 2005.
He and his wife Sara have four children: Ashtyn, Alayna, Allie and Jacob.
During the spring 2021 season, Hill led the Wildcats to a fourth straight conference title, as Weber State became just the second school to ever capture four straight conference championships. WSU finished with a perfect 5-0 Big Sky record in the shortened season and captured the first outright title in school history. Weber State was also ranked as high as second in the nation during the year, the highest ranking in school history. The Wildcats also advanced to the FCS Playoffs for the fifth straight season.
Hill was honored as the Big Sky Coach of the Year and the AFCA Region 5 Coach of the Year for the spring 2021 season.
WSU also had four All-Americans and led the conference with 13 all-conference performers, including nine players on the first team.
In 2019, he guided the Wildcats to another Big Sky title and a trip to the semifinals of the FCS Playoffs for the first time in school history. The Wildcats also finished third in the nation in the final polls.
After the 2019 regular season, he was named the AFCA Region 5 Coach of the Year.
Hill has coached the Wildcat defense, which has been one of the best in the country in the last few seasons. Weber State has led the Big Sky in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense and interceptions in several of the last few seasons.
In 2018, Weber State had another record-setting season as the Wildcats finished 10-3, winning 10 games in back-to-back seasons for the first time ever. Weber State also repeated as Big Sky champions with a 7-1 conference record for the first time ever. The Wildcats earned their first ever seed in the FCS Playoffs as they earned the No. 2 seed and advanced to the quarterfinals for the second-straight season. Weber State was ranked as high as third in the nation, the highest ranking ever, and finished the year ranked sixth in the country.
The Wildcats also had 19 players that earned All-Big Sky honors, including a school-record 13 players named to the first team. Seven Wildcats, Josh Davis, Brady May, Iosua Opeta, Adam Rodriguez, Rashid Shaheed, Filipe Sitake and LeGrand Toia, all earned All-America honors. Davis also won the Jerry Rice Award as the National Freshman of the Year.
In 2017, Hill was named the Utah Coach of the Year as part of the Governor’s State of Sport Awards after he guided Weber State to its best season in school history. The Wildcats won the Big Sky Conference title, won a school-record 11 games, won two games in the FCS Playoffs and were ranked in the top five in the nation, the highest ranking in school history. Weber State also had eight players earn All-American honors, the most ever, and had 17 players earn Big Sky All-Conference honors, including a league-best eight on the first team.
Hill engineered the Wildcat defense that was one of the best in the country in 2017. Weber State finished in the top 10 in the country in interceptions, turnovers gained and red zone defense. The Wildcats led the Big Sky in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense, interceptions, pass efficiency defense and red zone defense.
In 2017, eight Wildcats earned All-American honors, the most in a season in WSU history. Taron Johnson and Andrew Vollert were consensus All-Americans with Xequille Harry, Brady May, Iosua Opeta, Rashid Shaheed, LeGrand Toia and Trey Tuttle also earning All-America honors. Johnson was named the Big Sky Defensive MVP and was drafted in the fourth round of the NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills.
Hill, 46, was named the 11th head coach in Weber State football history in December 2013. In his first season of 2014, Hill led the Wildcats to a 2-10 overall record and a 2-6 mark in Big Sky play. Under his direction, Weber State saw dramatic improvements statistically and finished the season in the top third in the Big Sky in several categories. He also coached 11 Wildcats that earned Big Sky All-Conference honors.
In 2015, Hill guided the Wildcats to a 6-5 overall record and a 5-3 record in Big Sky play. It was Weber State’s first winning season in five years and included several key victories. The Wildcats picked up a 24-21 overtime in at Montana, their first win in Missoula since 1987. Weber State also finished the year 4-1 at home with wins over Sacramento State, North Dakota, UC Davis and Idaho State. WSU had 10 players earn Big Sky All-Conference honors and Joe Hawkins earned All-American honors. Weber State also led the Big Sky in total defense under Hill’s leadership.
In 2016, Hill guided Weber State to a 7-5 record. The Wildcats finished 6-2 in Big Sky Conference play, finishing third in the conference standings, Weber State’s highest finish since 2009. Weber State also qualified for the FCS Playoffs for the first time since 2009. The Wildcats were also ranked nationally during the season for the first time in six years.
Weber State’s defense led the Big Sky in passing defense. During the season the ‘Cats won five-straight games, including a dramatic comeback with at Southern Utah, where the Wildcats rallied for a 22-point deficit in the final eight minutes of the game. Weber State also posted back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in six years. The Wildcats had 13 players earn Big Sky All-Conference honors, including Andrew Vollert and Tre’von Johnson and the first team. Vollert was also named an All-American at Weber State.
Hill was a longtime assistant coach at the University of Utah, and came to WSU with a reputation as one of the top recruiters in the West and has spent time working for three different head coaches at Utah.
He spent 13 years (2001-13) at Utah, including the last nine seasons as a full-time assistant coach under Kyle Whittingham. Prior to that, he spent four years as a graduate assistant and administrative assistant with the Utes under legendary coaches Ron McBride and Urban Meyer.
The Lehi, Utah native played college football at Ricks Junior College, where he earned junior college All-American honors at cornerback. He went on to play two seasons (1998-99) at Utah under Ron McBride. As a senior he led the Mountain West in interceptions, was named Utah’s Defensive MVP and earned second team All-Conference honors. He later played briefly in the XFL and signed free agent contracts with the Buffalo Bills and New York Giants.
After his playing career he spent three seasons as a graduate assistant coach and one year as an administrative assistant, working for McBride and Meyer.
In 2005, he became a full-time assistant coach under Whittingham. All nine seasons he spent at Utah he worked as the special teams coordinator. He also coached on offense and defense, coaching the cornerbacks (2005-06; 2010-11), running backs (2012) and tight ends (2007-09; 2013).
Utah’s special teams excelled under Hill. In 2006 the Utes led the nation in net punting. They led the Mountain West in kickoff coverage four straight seasons and led the Pac-12 in the category in 2011, Utah’s first year in the conference. In 2012 Utah was sixth in the nation in kick return average and this past season the Utes again led the Pac-12 in net punting and finished 10th in the nation. In 2008 Hill was a finalist for the FootballScoop Special Teams Coordinator of the Year.
In his career at Utah, Hill served as the position coach for five All-Americans: defensive back Eric Weddle in 2006, punter Louie Sakoda in 2007, Sakoda as a place kicker in 2008, punt returner Shaky Smithson in 2010 and kick returner Reggie Dunn in 2012. Weddle was drafted in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers and is a Pro Bowl safety. Sakoda, the only unanimous consensus All-American in Utah football history, was a Lou Groza and Ray Guy finalist in 2008. Smithson led the nation in punt returns yards and average in 2010. Hill also mentored NFL draft picks Sean Smith, Brice McCain, R.J. Stanford and Brandon Burton.
During his tenure with the Utes, Hill became acclaimed as a top recruiter. Rivals.com named him to its “Class of 2009 Top 25 Recruiters” and named him one of the Top 10 Recruiters in the Pac-12 in 2012.
Hill earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish in 2000 from Utah and earned his master’s degree in ESS/Sports Psychology in 2005.
He and his wife Sara have four children: Ashtyn, Alayna, Allie and Jacob.
Jay Hill record at Weber State
| Season | Overall | Big Sky | Postseason |
| 2014 | 2-10 | 2-6 (11th) | |
| 2015 | 6-5 | 5-3 (t4th) | |
| 2016 | 7-5 | 6-2 (3rd) | FCS First Round |
| 2017 | 11-3 | 7-1 (1st) | FCS Quarterfinals |
| 2018 | 10-3 | 7-1 (1st) | FCS Quarterfinals |
| 2019 | 11-4 | 7-1 (1st) | FCS Semifinals |
| 2020-21 | 5-1 | 5-0 (1st) | FCS First Round |
| 2021 | 6-5 | 5-3 (t5th) | |
| 2022 | 10-3 | 6-2 (t3rd) | FCS Second Round |
| Total | 68-39 (.636) | 50-19 (.725) |
Weber State football Mic'd Up - Angel King
Friday, August 15
Mic'd Up - Angel King
Friday, August 15
Wildcat All In - Bird Butler
Thursday, August 14
Wildcat All In - Jackson Gilkey
Monday, July 28
