Rutgers Names Fred Hill Head Men's Basketball Coach
Mar 27 | Men's Basketball
PISCATAWAY, NJ - Fred Hill has been named head men’s basketball coach at Rutgers University, Director of Athletics Robert E. Mulcahy announced today.
Hill, 47, served as Associate Head Coach for the Scarlet Knights in the 2005-06 season. Prior to his arrival at Rutgers in April, 2005, Hill spent the previous four seasons as an assistant coach at Villanova University, his final two seasons serving as associate head coach. During his stint at Villanova, Hill played a major part in the recruitment of Villanova’s highly-acclaimed recruiting classes of 2002 and 2003 while also playing a key role in on-court teaching and in-game strategy. Villanova reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in 2004-05 and reached the Elite Eight of the 2006 NCAA Tournament this season.
“Growing up in New Jersey, becoming the head coach of Rutgers University has always been a dream of mine,” said Hill. “It is an honor and a privilege to be afforded this opportunity and I will work incredibly hard to make this a program that will make us all proud.”
Hill served three seasons (1998-2001) as an assistant coach at Seton Hall University, where he was part of the staff that helped steer the Pirates to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in 2000 and secure the top-ranked recruiting class in the nation that year. Hill has consistently been ranked as one of the top assistant coaches in the nation by several publications in recent years.
“Today is an exciting day for Rutgers University and its basketball program,” Mulcahy said. “By naming Fred Hill head coach, we feel we have positioned our program for unparalleled success in what is the nation’s premier basketball conference. Fred brings outstanding credentials to this position. I know he will be tireless in his efforts to bring our program to the heights that an institution the stature of Rutgers deserves.”
Prior to his stint at Seton Hall, Hill served seven years as an assistant coach at Fairleigh Dickinson University, including his final three seasons as associate head coach. In Hill’s final three seasons at FDU, the Knights were 23-7 and captured the Northeast Conference title.
A New Jersey native who attended Verona High School, Hill is a 1977 graduate of Verona High School and a 1981 graduate of Montclair State College, where he was an All-Conference guard as a senior on a team that reached the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Hill has also served as an assistant coach at the University of Maine (1988-91), Marquette University (1986-88), Rider College (1983-86) and Lehigh University (1982-83). His first college coaching position was at Montclair State (1981-82).
Coaching is in Hill’s bloodlines as his father, Fred Hill Sr., is the long-time, highly-successful head baseball coach at Rutgers. In addition, his uncle, Brian Hill, is the head coach of the NBA’s Orlando Magic.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT FRED HILL
"Jersey coaches trust him and he trusts them. They are his friends, even those who never sent him a kid. The reason is truth. I've heard every recruiting pitch you can imagine. But his is totally truthful and the kids can tell it. He doesn't make promises he or his school won't keep."
- Bob Hurley, Head Coach, St. Anthony High School (Jersey City, NJ)
"He's got a tremendous rapport with people in New York City, coaches and the summer basketball people, and with the Jersey coaches and summer people."
- Kevin Boyle, Head Coach, St. Patrick’s HS (Elizabeth, NJ)
"I was going to Seton Hall because he was on the staff there. When he left to come to Villanova, that's the reason I chose Villanova. And if he'd have chosen a different school, I would have gone to that one. He cares about you and you know it."
- Randy Foye, Guard, Villanova
“He made my family feel really comfortable. He made us feel like he was a friend of the family and not just a coach. He has a unique style…He is very genuine.”
- Andre Barrett, former guard, Seton Hall
“I’m very happy for Fred and proud of him. He’s a coach’s coach and he is very prepared for this challenge. He has been a loyal and patient assistant. Fred deserves this opportunity.”
- Jay Wright, Head Coach, Villanova
"I am thrilled to see Freddie get the opportunity to become the head coach at Rutgers. He is a terrific person and coach. In my humble opinion, Coach Hill is the perfect man for Rutgers Basketball."
- Tommy Amaker, Head Coach, Michigan
"I'm glad he's there. I think the program is in great hands with Freddie Hill."
- Eddie Jordan, former Rutgers All-American, and current Washington Wizards Head Coach
"Coach Hill built a relationship with me from an early age. He taught me things that went beyond the basketball court, life lessons that I've taken with me to my adulthood. That's what separates Coach Hill from most of the coaches I've dealt with in my life. He's able to relate with you beyond the game."
- Elijah Allen, former guard, Fairleigh Dickinson
"He was my assistant for seven years and after his fourth year we named him associate head coach. The thing about Fred is he has a terrific basketball mind and he's an extremely hard worker."
- Tom Green, Head Coach, Fairleigh Dickinson
"He's ready to run his own show. He's been exposed to all different types of coaches and nobody knows the game better than him. The thing that has made him a great recruiter all these years is that he's always true to his word. That's going to make him successful as a head coach, too."
- Ollie Gelston, former Head Coach, Montclair State
"He brings the total package -- recruiting success, enthusiasm and excitement plus a knowledge of the game."
- Dick Vitale, Announcer, ESPN/ABC
"Fred Hill is an absolutely wired recruiter in the Northeast (especially Jersey) who helped deliver monster classes to Seton Hall and … the [Villanova] Wildcats. He's long overdue
to be handed his own program to turn into a winner."
- Dan Wetzel, Lindy's College Basketball
"If you don't know Fred Hill from Sam Hill, you haven't been paying attention. He's the guy who helped Tommy Amaker build Seton Hall's Sweet 16 team in 2000 by landing Eddie Griffin, Andre Barrett and Samuel Dalembert. He then went to Villanova, where he helped Jay Wright assemble last season's Sweet 16 team by landing Randy Foye, Curtis
Sumpter, Allan Ray and Mike Nardi. Fred Hill is hot."
- Gregg Doyel, CBS Sportsline
