BYU football: Defensive coordinator Jaime Hill fired

PROVO — Jaime Hill, BYU's defensive coordinator and secondary coach, was fired on Saturday following BYU's loss to Utah State on Friday, giving the Cougars a 1-4 start to BYU's season, the worst start since 1973.

Hill, who was named BYU's defensive coordinator in 2008, came to BYU in 2006 with the departure of Brian Mitchell to Texas Tech. He worked as the secondary coach before being elevated to coordinator. Hill confirmed his dismissal on Saturday.

"I was fired; I didn't resign. I'm OK; I'll be fine," Hill said Saturday.

"This is part of the business and it happens. It just doesn't usually happen in the middle of a season. I will join another team in a couple of weeks."

Head coach Bronco Mendenhall will take over the defensive coordinator responsibilities and indicated that graduate assistant Kelly Poppinga will assume responsibility as a defensive coach on the staff for the remainder of the season.

Mendenhall acted in both roles when BYU hired him in 2005 to replace Gary Crowton.

It is uncertain Mendenhall has made any other personnel moves over the weekend. On his postgame radio show on KSL Friday night, Mendenhall said he supported decisions his coaches made in play-calling and trying to learn about the team and do what was right for the squad.

Hill was given the choice to resign or be fired, according to sources. He met with Mendenhall and athletic director Tom Holmoe on Saturday about noon.

Hill said he was told BYU wanted to go in a different direction with the defensive leadership and he had to go.

"It is surprising that this would happen in the middle of the season; it is unusual," said Hill, who indicated he would have relinquished play-calling duties and finished the season if possible.

Hill is under contract with BYU until August 2011.

People close to the program believe Hill's issues may not be based on performance but some personality issues with players and staff.

"I am not surprised by the move," said former defensive captain Jan Jorgensen, now a radio host on 1280 AM. "I think it is a good thing. Coach Hill is a very volatile person and a number of players have quit because of him and others who are playing now almost quit because of him."

Jorgensen, who played defensive end last year, said Hill was a very good secondary coach, but as a coordinator, "I didn't think he was a very good play-caller."