Changes keep coming in Ann Arbor, with Kyle Whittingham making his imprint on the Michigan Wolverines team. And among the changes, the front office continues to be revamped.
Over the weekend, it was revealed that former safeties and wide receivers coach Ron Bellamy would return but move into the director of player personnel role that has been since abdicated by Albert Karschnia. Now it appears that director of football operations Erin (Dunston) Zernechel has been replaced by a Whittingham acolyte from his time at Utah.
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Michigan football officially announced via X (formerly Twitter) that Natalia Benitez-Hilton will serve as the Wolverines‘ new director of football operations.
Hilton was a Utah student equipment manager for two and a half years, starting in 2020, before working in operations for half a year, and then becoming Whittingham’s assistant for four years. She also had two years, while being his assistant, of working as the director of on-campus recruiting before leaving prior to the 2025 season to work as an assistant for both the Utah Jazz and Utah Mammoth professional teams.
Her LinkedIn profile indicates that she has been on campus in her role since January 2026.
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This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan football hires Natalia Benitez-Hilton
