Travers Family Head Football Coach Tosh Lupoi announced the hiring of Michael Hutchings as the program's defensive coordinator Friday.

Hutchings comes to Berkeley after three seasons with the NFL's Minnesota Vikings. For the last two years, he served as the team's safeties coach after being elevated from his role as an assistant defensive backs coach in 2023.

Overall, Hutchings brings eight years of coaching experience - both collegiately and professionally - to Lupoi's staff.

Through 16 games of the 2025 season, the Vikings defense currently ranks fifth in the NFL, surrendering only 292.7 yards per game. Through the air, Minnesota ranks third in passing defense, allowing just 168.8 yards per game. Overall, the Vikings defensive unit ranks 10th in the league in points allowed (20.8) with a majority of the league still to play its 16th game of the season.

In 2024, Hutchings helped the Vikings to a 14-3 regular-season record - the second-most wins in team history - and a playoff appearance. His safeties played an integral role in, leading the NFL in interceptions (24), passes defended (95), opponent 4th-down conversion percentage (37.1%) and interceptions per attempt (3.8%) and tying for the league lead in takeaways (33). The unit also helped the Vikings rank second in the NFL in opponent scoring efficiency (31.6%), opponent runs of at least 20 yards (five) and opponents rushing yards per game (93.5).

Minnesota recorded a takeaway in every regular season game in 2024, marking the most consecutive games with a takeaway in a single season in franchise history, and was the only team in the NFL with a takeaway in every game. The Vikings' 24 interceptions were five more than any other team in the league.

Former Golden Bear and former Viking Cam Bynum, along with All-Pro safety Harrison Smith, tied for the team lead with three interceptions in 2024. 

During his first season in the professional ranks, Hutchings helped the Vikings defense improve from their 31st overall ranking in 2022 to 16th in 2023, and lead the NFL with 21 takeaways, with defensive backs accounting for 14.

Hutchings helped his defensive backs and Bynum to career numbers in 2023. Bynum posted career highs in tackles (137), passes defended (nine), forced fumbles (three) and tied his then career-best mark in interceptions (two). His 137 total tackles led all Vikings defenders and were the most by a defensive back in the league in 2023.

Before his time in the NFL, Hutchings spent time at Western Kentucky (2022), Oregon (2021) and USC (2018-20). 

He was the outside linebackers coach for the Hilltoppers during a 9-5 campaign. Before his time in Kentucky, he served as a defensive analyst under Mario Cristobal at Oregon and began his coaching career at his alma mater, USC.

During his time at USC, Hutchings helped lead a dramatic improvement in the Trojans' defense from 2019 to 2020, with total yards allowed per game dropping from 408.7 to 369.7 and passing yards allowed per game falling from 246.2 to 216.3. 

Additionally, he coached safety Talanoa Hufanga, who was named a consensus All-American and the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, and defensive lineman Marlon Tuipulotu, who made All-Pac-12 first team in 2020.

The Concord native played four seasons (2013-16) at inside linebacker for USC, making 15 starts and recording 118 tackles, including eight tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, two passes defensed and one interception.

Hutchings received his bachelor's degree in communications and a master's degree in communication management from USC.