Kyle Whittingham’s Michigan landed yet another BYU coach on their staff, following DC Jay Hill. The Wolverines hired BYU’s Jernaro Gilford as the new cornerback coach, per Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports. He has been coaching at BYU since 2016 and helped the Cougars rank 10th nationally in passes intercepted this season, with a total of 16. In 2024, his BYU defense recorded the most interceptions by any team in the country, with 12 different players having at least one.

The growth of Jernaro Gilford only creates curiosity about the people who have backed him. So, let’s explore more about Gilford’s family, who were the biggest cheerleaders in his journey.

Who is Jernaro Gilford? Know about Michigan’s New Cornerbacks Coach

Jernaro Gilford is Michigan’s new CB coach, who brings in 13 years of experience to the desk. He spent the last ten seasons with BYU as a CB coach and was promoted to the Passing Game Coordinator in 2025. Before joining the Cougars coaching staff, he was the secondary coach at Southern Utah for two seasons and the cornerbacks coach & special teams coach at Whittier College.

The California native also played for BYU as a defensive back and was an All-Mountain West Conference honoree for totaling ten interceptions in 2001. Just like his playing career, his coaching career at BYU kept the program leading the FBS in interceptions per game. He brings not only hands-on experience to the Wolverines but also his strategic mind in recruitment.

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Who is Jernaro Gilford’s Family?

Jerry Gilford and Alberta Cummings are the parents of Jernaro, who participated in his graduation ceremonies in August 2003. He grew up with his parents in California, attending Westchester High School until 1998. However, there is no public information available about their parents. Jernaro is married to Brittany, and they are a family of four now. He currently resides in Lehi, Utah, along with his wife and kids.

Who is Jernaro Gilford’s Wife and How Did They Meet?

Brittany Gilford is the wife of Jernaro Gilford. She owns a local business called ‘Pudding N Pillows,’ through which she sells banana pudding at home games, as well as to a handful of local eateries. There is no public information on when they met or got married; however, they’ve been together for at least 16 years.

Brittany plays an important role in Jernaro’s success. In fact, she was the one who even pushed Jernaro into a coaching career when his playing career ended in 2004 due to injuries. “She (his wife) was 100 percent behind me,” said Jernaro in an interview with Hans Olsen.

BYU HC Kalani Sitake, who’s been the godfather of Jernaro, appreciated his wife for having his back and helping him achieve great heights in his coaching career.

“I use anything I can to keep my guys around,” said Kalani Sitake when Jernaro was promoted as Defensive Passing Coordinator in September 2025. “I am really thankful for him, for his wife, Brittany, and for the kids who want to be here and be part of this program. It’s an honor for me to be his friend and to be working with him.”

How Many Kids Does Jernaro Gilford Have?

Jernaro and Brittany have two children together, a son named Jernaro Jr. and a daughter named Jru. His son is a rising standout defensive back, just like his father, and currently plays for Skyridge High. There, he had 19 tackles in nine games as a sophomore before earning offers from Utah, UNLV, San Diego State, Hawaii, and even from his dad’s former program, BYU. However, Jernaro wasn’t the one behind the offer. It came from the former DC Jay Hill with Sitake’s blessing. However, there is no publicly available information on his daughter Jru, keeping her personal life away from the public platforms.