USD Baseball 1999

4

US[) Coaching Staff

Rich Hill First Season

Head Coach

(Cal Lutheran, 1984) When Torero baseball takes to the field this season, there will be a new skipper at the helm. Rich Hill, head coach at the University ofSan Francisco the past five years, becomes just the third head coach in San Diego baseball history, replacing John Cunningham who retired after directing USD baseball for 35 years. The 36-year-old Hill has a proven record of success in head coaching stops - first at his alma mater, Cal Lutheran and most recently at the University of San Francisco. This past season he guided the USF Dons to a school-record 34 victories, including a school best 18 wins in the West Coast Conference as the Dons finished tied with USD for third place in the WCC. Over the past three seasons, Hill guided USF to upper division finishes in the WCC; and posted three straight winning sea– sons, including two campaigns of 30 or more victories. This past January, Hill became one of the youngest coaches in NCAA history to reach 300 career wins. He

comes to USD with a career record of 333-220 (11 seasons). Previous to his tenure at USF, Hill led Cal Lutheran to a record of 194-76 (.719) over six seasons, including two World Series appearances. His 1992 squad posted a 43-6 record before falling a couple of outs shy of the NCAA Division III title, while the 1993 team finished first in the Western Region with a 32-7 record. Under Hill's guidance, the Kingsmen knocked off Division I opponents such as USC, Pepperdine, San Diego State, UC Santa Barbara and Cal State Northridge. During his six seasons at Cal Lutheran, 92 percent of his players received their degrees. In addition to his collegiate coaching positions, Hill was head coach for the Chatham A's of the Cape Cod League between 1990-93, winning the league title in 1992 with a franchise record of 35-11. He has twice been recognized as the ABCA West Region Coach of the Year (1992, 1993); was the 1992 Cape Cod Baseball League "Manager of the Year"; was. twice named the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year (1992, 1993); and twice was the recipient of the California Lutheran University Alumni Career Excellence Award (1993, 1994). Hill has made his mark off the field as well. The past four years he has served on the American Baseball Coaches Association, Editorial Committee; and has been an advisor with the Fellowship ofChristian Athletes. He started an innovative peer mentoring program with his USF team. Dons players and coaching staffvolunteered at the nearby Hamilton Community Center, reading stories and playing games with homeless children. Furthermore, Hill is a speaker and clinician at various conventions and camps throughout the region. Hill earned his Bachelor of Arts degree (Physical Education) in 1984 from California Lutheran University. After playing one season with the St. Louis Cardinals organization in 1985 (Single A affiliate in Savannah, Georgia), he returned to his alma mater where he earned his Master of Science degree in Education in 1988. Rich and his wife, Lori, live in San Diego with their two children, Robbie (7) and Lindsey (4).

Hill's Coaching File

Conference Record 18-12 (T-3rd WCC) 17-11 (3rd WCC) 15-13 (4th WCC) 11-17 (5th WCC) 9-21 (6th WCC) 1st (West Region) 1st (NAIA Dist. 3) 1st (NAIA Dist 3) 2nd (NAIA Dist. 3) 6th (NAIA Dist. 3) 1st (SCIAC)

Record

Year 1998

School

34-24 29-27 30-25 24-35 22-33

USF

1997 USF 1996 USF

The Hills Lori, Rich, Robbie and Lindsey

USF

1995

1994 USF

32-7 43-6 32-8

Cal Lutheran Cal Lutheran Cal Lutheran Cal Lutheran Cal Lutheran Cal Lutheran

1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988

35-16 31-18 21-21

333-220 (.602) 139-144 (.491)

11 Years (Overall) 5 Years (Division I)