10 »
Tuesday, March 8, 2011 » THE TRIBUNE
Hill earns respect on recruiting trail « Hill From 5
»»Hill’s career
made $50,000.” Last season as UNC’s top assistant, Hill earned $50,000, but he was rewarded with a base salary of $85,000 to become the Bears’ head coach. “Sure,” Hill said, “a salary is part of the profession, but it’s not something that consumes me by any means. I’m in this business to be around athletes and individuals that I can help achieve dreams. It’s been so much fun to be with the players who came here at the same time I did, realizing that our hard work pays off. “Anybody can get comfortable in a coaching position, and you see it at all levels. I’m more interested in the type of motor a guy has and as a hu-
Year Program Record 1997-98 North Iowa Area CC (AC) 17-15 (.531) 1998-99 Independence CC (AC) 22-10 (.688) 1999-00 South Dakota State (AC) 21-9 (.700) 2000-01 Coffeyville Community College (AC) 24-8 (.750) 2001-02 Coffeyville Community College (AC) 36-2 (.947) 2002-03 Coffeyville Community College (AC) 29-9 (.763) 2003-04 Coffeyville Community College (AC) 31-7 (.816) 2004-05 Coffeyville Community College (AC) 26-7 (.788) 2005-06 Indian Hills Community College (AC) 25-6 (.806) 2006-07 Northern Colorado (AC) 4-24 (.143) 2007-08 Northern Colorado (AC) 13-16 (.448) 2008-09 Northern Colorado (AHC) 14-18 (.438) 2009-10 Northern Colorado (AHC) 25-8 (.758) 2010-11 Northern Colorado (HC) 19-10 (.655) AC - assistant coach AHC - associate head coach HC - head coach
man being, the morals and standards you hold yourself accountable for.” Respect plays huge for Hill and Boyle
It was while Hill was at Coffeyville that he and Tad Boyle, his predecessor at UNC, hooked up. “I learned so much there,” Hill said. “We won at a high
rate, but even better, you had to get out and recruit hard. Even better, a lot of Division I schools came in and were recruiting our kids, so I got to see how a lot of them did their deal.” Boyle was an assistant at Wichita State University, and the two often shared stories while recruiting the same players at various levels of the Kansas state basketball tournaments, usually in Topeka or Emporia, Kan. One one occasion, Boyle had a key interest in Coffeyville’s Marlon Mahorn, the nephew of former NBA player Rick Mahorn. “They (Wichita State) followed him his freshman year, and then again as a sophomore, but I really didn’t think Marlon was the kind of guy they were looking for,” Hill said. “I told Tad that, and
I told him to take a look at Ryan Martin.” To make a long story short, Wichita State signed Martin, who in turn was named as the Missouri Valley Conference’s top sixth man on a team that advanced to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Division I tournament. Martin is now a UNC assistant coach. “Tad and I trusted each other’s viewpoint and opinion on players,” Hill said. “He respected the job we were doing at Coffeyville.” While assisting longtime Coffeyville head coach Jay Herkelman, the Ravens won five Jayhawk Conference titles, three regional titles, once played for the Junior College national title, and were fifth and seventh nationally. The success at Coffeyville didn’t get Hill anywhere near a
head coaching position. “Jobs were open for the three worst teams in the conference — at Colby Community College, at Fort Scott, Kan., and at Pratt Junior College in Kansas. I couldn’t even get a sniff at any of the three,” Hill said. “As a college coach, you learn to live with persistence. “There were plenty of days I told myself that I should buy my dad’s insurance business (Peterson/Hill Independent Insurance Agency in Cedar Falls) and take that route,” Hill added. “I thank God everyday for where I’m at and for the opportunity I’ve been given at UNC.” When Boyle left UNC for a bigger stage at the
«
continued 11: Hill
More than just an insurance company When you receive a policy from COUNTRY, you’re not just getting a piece of paper, you’re getting peace of mind. Plus you’ll be working with one person you know and trust, backed by a team of experts.
Randy Andrade Greeley 970-506-1392
0311-517HO
Paul Dovenbarger Greeley 970-506-1392
Brian Lacey Fort Collins 970-221-9655