Weber State hires Jay Hill

Jay Hill speaks with reporters at a press conference where he was introduced as the new head NCAA college football coach at Weber State University Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013, in Ogden, Utah.

Benjamin Zack, AP

OGDEN Jay Hill enthusiastically took charge of the Weber State football program Thursday at Stewart Stadium. The former Utah assistant was officially introduced as head coach of the Wildcats at a late morning press conference.

I am so excited to be here, Hill said. And Im excited to get out in the community, get our players out in the community and just serve create a good product that people want to come to on Saturdays.

Hill is the 11th head coach in team history. The 38-year-old makes the move to the Big Sky Conference school after nine seasons as a full-time assistant on Kyle Whittinghams staff at Utah.

Jay has done a great job for our program for a number of years in many capacities and we will miss him, Whittingham said. He is one of the top special teams coaches in the country and he is ready to become a head coach. We wish him all the best as he takes the next step in his coaching career.

During his tenure with the Utes, Hill served as special teams coordinator and position coach for tight ends, running backs and cornerbacks. He was a graduate and administrative assistant from 2001-04.

In his playing days, Hill was a star defensive back at Ricks College and Utah. He played briefly with the XFLs Orlando Rage and signed free agent contracts with the NFLS Buffalo Bills and New York Giants.

Hell make a great head coach, said Utah safeties coach Morgan Scalley. Jay is a guy with a ton of experience on both sides of the football, really in all three phases of the game offense, defense and special teams.

Scalley also praised Hill for being a great recruiter who has done a great job in the state of Utah and knows the landscape well. He also considers him a guy with a lot of energy and a ton of great ideas.

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Weber State hires Jay Hill