Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
by Jeff Reynolds, BYU Athletic Communications
PROVO, Utah (March 17, 2006) -- BYU head football coach Bronco Mendenhall today announced Jaime Hill (first name is pronounced HI-me) has been selected to coach the Cougars' defensive secondary.
"Coach Hill brings a great deal of technical and schematic expertise to our secondary," Mendenhall said. "He has coaching experience at every level, including the past two seasons as a defensive coordinator in the Canadian Football League."
Hill comes to Provo after three seasons as an assistant coach in the Canadian Football League, including the past two seasons as the co-defensive coordinator for the Ottawa Renegades. Hill's first CFL experience began in 2003 with the Calgary Stampeders as the secondary coach.
"I'm very excited to work with Coach Mendenhall and his staff," Hill said. "I think they have this program heading in the right direction and this is a train I want to be aboard when it comes into the station."
The 42-year-old native of San Diego, Calif., brings an extensive resume to Provo with over 20 years of coaching experience. Hill has coached at the NCAA, NFL, CFL and XFL levels.
Prior to his three years in Canada, Hill served as the defensive coordinator at Humboldt State University in Arcata, Calif.
In the XFL, Hill served as the secondary coach with the San Francisco Demons in 2001. He has also worked with the NFL's San Francisco 49ers, working as a defensive assistant and secondary coach.
A graduate of San Francisco State University with a degree in psychology, Hill was a first team all-conference wide receiver in 1984 and 1985. He was also an Academic All-American and first-team all-league performer at Grossmont Junior College.
After a year as a student assistant coach at his alma mater, Hill was hired as the graduate assistant coach at UTEP for the 1988 season. A year later, he moved to Northern Arizona where he coached the receivers and tight ends. In 1991 and 1992, Hill coached the secondary at Sonoma State. In 1993, Hill served as the defensive coordinator at the University of Chicago before moving to Portland State as the defensive coordinator for four seasons.
Hill helped guide the Vikings to three straight appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs with a combined record of 25-11 from 1993-1995. In his final season, 1996, Portland State moved to the NCAA 1-AA level, competing as a member of the Big Sky Conference.
Hill and his wife, LaShanda, have three children, including twin girls, Brianna, Tichelle and a son, Marcquet.
Mendenhall also announced additional assignment changes for the defensive coaching staff. With Hill coaching the secondary, long-time assistant Barry Lamb will coach the outside linebackers and Paul Tidwell will coach the inside linebackers. Steve Kaufusi will continue coaching the defensive line.
Mendenhall said BYU will be implementing a 3-4 defensive scheme during Spring practice, which will begin on Monday, March 20.
"We feel like we've assembled the best coaching staff possible," Mendenhall said. "After reviewing our defensive personnel, there are players on our team who we can design scheme elements around to make sure we get our best 11 football players on the field. We believe the coaching assignment changes are in direct alignment with the strengths of our returning defensive personnel."
While the Cougars will be going away from the 3-3-5 scheme, Mendenhall said the principles of the new scheme will not change.
"The principles are very similar to what we have already done," he said. "We will continue to emphasize pursuit and gang tackling."
