PROVO, Utah — BYU defensive coordinator Jay Hill was released from the hospital Saturday, two days after suffering a heart attack.
Hill, 49, who is also the team’s associate head coach, was seen attending the Cougars’ season opener against Southern Illinois at LaVell Edwards Stadium, but head coach Kalani Sitake took over Hill’s on-field duties.
Hill was hospitalized at a Utah County hospital Thursday night after experiencing chest pains following football practice that afternoon. Two stents were inserted into his arteries in separate procedures Friday and Saturday after an angiogram revealed one artery was 60 percent blocked and the other was 100 percent blocked.
Go Cougs! pic.twitter.com/Hn9hoR8IUr
— Jay Hill (@CoachJayHill) August 31, 2024
“Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined having a heart attack at age 49,” Hill wrote in a post on the social media platform X. “I can’t thank the doctors, nurses and staff enough for all their expertise, professionalism and care. I have since been released from the hospital and am feeling much better as I look forward to a speedy recovery.”
Hill joined Sitake’s staff as BYU’s defensive coordinator in 2023 after nine seasons at Weber State, where he posted a 68-39 record as head coach and guided the Wildcats to four consecutive Big Sky Conference championships from 2017-21.
He previously served as a defensive assistant at Utah under Urban Meyer and then Kyle Whittingham from 2001-13. Hill also played for the Utes as a defensive back in 1998 and 1999.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
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