If BYU coordinator Jay Hill leaves for Michigan, who would replace him?

Orlando, Fla. • Kalani Sitake seemed resigned to what comes next.

After a two-year run that saw his program win 22 games, go to the Big 12 title game and flirt with the College Football Playoff, one of his lead lieutenants could be on the move.

Newly minted Michigan man Kyle Whittingham is rumored to have his eyes on BYU defensive coordinator Jay Hill as his top assistant in Ann Arbor. It would be one of the premier coordinator jobs in college football and, potentially, a foot in the door for a head coaching job down the line.

“It’s difficult when you’re the head coach and you’re trying to keep things going,” Sitake said this week. “I think if you have a lot of coaches doing great things, [people] are going to want them. … It’s just hard to because you put everything into establishing this, and then you’re like, ‘Well, man, I gotta keep doing that.’”

At least Sitake can take solace in the fact that his longtime mentor, LaVell Edwards, had to deal with replacing assistants too.

“He had Mike Holmgren and bring it to life according to and Norm Chow, Andy Reid. All those guys were on the staff,” Sitake said. “That’s college football, really.”

But now the long offseason begins for Sitake to rebuild a program looking for a playoff breakthrough.

He will have more resources than ever to bring it to life according to his vision. A long-term deal guaranteed a bigger pool of cash for his next hires. But this will be arguably the most consequential choice Sitake’s made since joining the Big 12.

Hill has been at his side for all three years in the Power Four, reversing BYU’s prospects in recruiting and on the field. He flipped key players like Faletau Satuala and Keanu Tanuvasa from Utah. When Hill arrived in Provo, the Utes dominated the state’s recruiting pastures. This year, BYU signed a top 25 recruiting class and landed five of the top 10 recruits in Utah.

It wasn’t all due to Hill. Money and a power conference affiliation certainly had a say. But Hill was undoubtedly a key factor. Just take Satuala’s word for it.

“I mean the biggest thing was Jay Hill,” he said when he picked the Cougars over the Utes.

So where does Sitake go? Internally? Externally?

There are certainly options on his staff that would make sense. Special teams coordinator Kelly Poppinga knows the defense and has been a coordinator at Virginia under Bronco Mendenhall. Jernaro Gilford is possibly the best position coach on the staff and has guided BYU’s defensive backs for the better part of a decade. There was a reason why Gilford was the only defensive staffer Hill kept when he got the job.

But there also is a possibility Sitake could look outside the BYU coaching tree — similar to Hill. It might be impossible to find somebody with Hill’s resume — a head coach for a decade and a Whittingham disciple. But with more money, the job will be attractive.

Sitake needs to get it right.

“I feel really good about what we have going here,” Sitake said. “We will go with what we got. Jay is a big part of what we have done defensively for the last two years.”

An LJ decision?

The coaching staff might get an overhaul, but Sitake’s roster is also in flux.

Running back LJ Martin, BYU’s best offensive player, will have a decision to return to BYU or head to the NFL.

Martin was a three-year starter and finished this season as the top back in the Big 12. He ran for 1,300 yards and over 200 carries.

“I hope he comes back,” Sitake said. “I think his decision is the NFL or come back with us for his senior year.”

If the Pop-Tarts Bowl win was any indication, BYU desperately needs him to return — and probably needs more reinforcements along with it.

Martin didn’t play after electing for shoulder surgery and, in his absence, BYU kept trotting out running backs to see if any were effective. Enoch Nawahine barely went over 30 yards. Jovesa Damuni, who offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick kept talking about, did have the game-sealing touchdown with two minutes to play — but he was still held to under 50 yards overall.

BYU was plagued by a lack of depth at that position all season. When Martin played injured against Texas Tech, the Cougars’ offense ground to a halt. That will need to change if BYU is going to close the gap on the Red Raiders next year.

And make no mistake, a playoff spot likely runs through Lubbock next year in the Big 12.

Other personnel

Other attrition always looms as the transfer portal opens. If Hill goes to Michigan, could he take star linebacker Isaiah Glasker with him? What about Satuala?

BYU is already losing fellow linebacker Jack Kelly due to graduation and Tanner Wall is on his way out too.

Beyond that, BYU likely needs to add another wide receiver. Chase Roberts’ career is over and BYU lacked explosiveness in the receiver room as it is. Parker Kingston could be the top receiver next year, but he hasn’t been a true downfield threat. JoJo Phillips was expected to take a leap, but spent the better part of this season hurt.

All of these needs come with Texas Tech in mind. The Red Raiders have a bevy of receivers and arguably the best defensive line in the country.

BYU knows it will need to match that and minimize the talent gap.

Sitake has the resources he’s been asking for.

Now the build begins.