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Fred Hill

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Tributes to Fred Hill

Former Player Vinnie Abene
"Tough day. Tough loss for everyone that ever met Coach. He made an impact on anyone that ever met him. What I can say I took most from Coach was how he taught you to be a better man. He taught you accountability, responsibility, priorities, hard work and toughness. Obviously if you know him, he had a passion for the game like no other. He taught me a lot about the game as well. And I was never a starter at Rutgers and shut it down after a couple years, but he always went out of his way to say hello to me and tell me some stories that we shared together. He was certainly one of my biggest inspirations and role models to become a coach. He has quite a coaching network out there on all levels of baseball and I know he followed them all and is proud of us all as well. He will certainly be missed by all but never forgotten."
 
Former Player Doug Alongi
"I was fortunate to play for Coach Hill. There were times we took the field and were outclassed from a talent perspective. Not once did we take the field and find ourselves less prepared than any opponent.  Coach was a great teacher of the game. I am glad I was able to recently thank him for the impact he had on my life. Coach Hill loved the college game but would have excelled as a minor league coach, as the focus there is all about teaching and developing talent."
 
Former Player Graig Badger
"I still use Moose-isms 15 years after graduation. There's no doubt that Coach Hill helped young men to become more competent and successful in life endeavors. He was quite a spark plug, and a great example to follow. Moose will be missed."
 
Former Player Greg A. Bedard
"To just give you an indication of Moose's impact, I didn't even technically play for the team, yet a month doesn't go by when I don't think about something he taught me and apply it to my youth coaching. After a year on the B team, I earned a varsity spot the next season but I sustained a serious hand injury in the winter. One of the hardest things I had to do was tell him I was going to concentrate on my studies and journalism. He was totally supportive and checked in on me over the years. He said he was proud of me when I was hired by the Boston Globe and then Sports Illustrated. To earn his respect ... well, that meant the world. We lost a great man today, but I know his impact flows through his former players — even those of us who went a different direction."
 
Former Player Mike Bionde
"Moose was a great coach to have the opportunity to play for. He demanded a lot from us, which helped me elevate my game and prepare me for the next level. My college experience was some of the best years of my life and I couldn't be more grateful to him for giving me the opportunity to play at Rutgers. His family is in my prayers."
 
Former Assistant Coach Jay Blackwell
"There may come a time in your life when you get to meet greatness and you don't even realize it. We in the Rutgers baseball family were fortunate to have greatness with us every day in the name of Fred Hill. Coach taught all of us life lessons with a fierce passion for the game we love. Whatever role you may have had in the baseball program, Fred Hill treated you as part of the family with love and respect. Our prayers are with the Hill family."
 
St. John's Head Coach Ed Blankmeyer
"A head coach for over 40 years, 1,089 collegiate wins, Hall of Famer. Fred Hill was a winner and developed Rutgers baseball into a top program. Fred was more than a great coach, he was a great friend. My condolences to the Hill family. Fred Hill 'Moose' has left a lasting legacy and will be remembered as one of the great coaches to ever grace the fields of New Jersey."
 
Princeton Head Coach & Former Rutgers Assistant Scott Bradley
"My Dad and Coach Hill are longtime friends and I have had the pleasure of spending a great deal of time with the Hill family. Coach has been a mentor to me and actually gave me my first coaching opportunity when I retired from professional baseball. He has impacted the lives of many and will always be loved by all that knew him."
 
Former Player Howie Brey
"Coach Hill was one of the toughest in all of college baseball. I was honored to be around for his last season in 2013."
 
Former Player & Coach Bobby Brownlie
"What a lot of people from the outside may not fully understand is the impact that Moose had on players off the baseball field. I can honestly say I am a better father, husband and man because of Moose. To see the way he interacted with his family during and after games set the example for all that played for him. It was much bigger than baseball, it was about being a better person. I am just thankful that I was able to play a small part in his life story. His legacy will live on through all the players he impacted."
 
Former Player Donny Callahan
"Confidence. Courage. Discipline. Hard work. Preparation. Family.
 
"These are just a few words that come to mind when thinking about Moose. He liked scrappy, hard-nosed players who would work harder than the competition. He had high expectations and although he didn't demand perfection, he did demand that we hustle and not take anything for granted. A modest champion, I remember him saying 'I've just been doing this for a long time' after his 900th win. Though I didn't realize it at the time, Moose would shape my life far beyond the baseball field. I am incredibly grateful that he took a chance on a 5-10, 150-pound kid from Sussex County, giving me the opportunity to be a part of something special at Rutgers, and making some of the best friends I have ever had. The lessons that he taught me are disciplines that I carry with me each and every day, both personally and professionally. I will always cherish my memories at Rutgers and I know that Moose's legacy lives on in each and every one of us whose lives he has had such an influential impact on."
 
Former Player Sean Campbell
"When I think about the way baseball is evolving today with all the advanced data analytics, to hear Moose's take on it all would be priceless. I'm sure it'd make me laugh, but reinforce what's most important - the fundamentals, the hard work, the consistency. That was Moose, old-school, sleeves-up attitude. I'll carry that with me forever."
 
Pitching Coach Phil Cundari
"Coach Hill was a special man on and off the field. He exemplified the highest of standards and was a true leader. Coach Hill created a culture and environment necessary to win on the highest level of college baseball. His impact on young men and their families transcended the playing field. Deepest condolences and prayers to the Fred Hill family."

Former Player Jake Daubert
"Coach Hill is a true legend. Not only was he a great coach, but he affected so many lives off the field. He taught us life lessons. I never had more respect for anyone. I loved Moose. He will forever be missed."
 
Former Player Johnny DeFendis
"One word that best describes Moose is 'Legendary.' He was tougher then Hercules and I always felt like he can live forever. I never understood how a man more than three times the age of his players could have more energy than us day in and day out. He taught me how to play the game the right way and that was 100 percent or not at all. I respect him for that. He cared about his players and he helped me through some tough times and I love him for that. Moose was a man's man and the last of a dying breed. My heart goes out to Mrs. Moose and his family."
 
Former Player David DeJesus
"Moose was more than just a great Hall of Fame coach, he was like having another father figure in my life. What he brought to the table as a man and coach gave me the tools to be successful in life, let alone my baseball career. He taught me how to be prepared for everything on the baseball field and the ability to visualize the play before it happens. It's sad to hear and hurts a lot to see where Moose is at, but I love him and his beautiful family! He will be in all of our hearts and prayers, and all of his ex-players and people who came in contact with him know how special of a man he is!"
 
Assistant Coach Jim Duffy
"I've always had a great deal of respect and admiration for Coach Hill. As a family man, mentor, competitor and legendary coach to so many, he was a tremendous example and role model for many of us. God Bless Coach Hill and his family. You're in my families' prayers."

Former Player Tom Edwards
"I, along with everyone who played for him, owe a great deal to Moose. Not only from a baseball perspective but a life perspective. He demanded a lot out of us as players and as men. Whether we knew it at the time or not, he was making us better people and future fathers and husbands all while making us better players. I am honored that I had the opportunity to play for such a great coach. My thoughts and prayers are with Mrs. Moose, the entire Hill family, and all the others who's lives Moose touched during this time."
 
Monmouth Head Coach Dean Ehehalt
"It is so sad to learn of the passing of Coach Hill. Condolences to Mrs. Hill, the Hill family and the Rutgers baseball community. Coach was a legend and he impacted so many lives. Coach Hill is certainly one of college baseball's all-time greats. He was one of the guys that help set the standard for college baseball programs in the Northeast. Everyone admired Moose. I cherished our friendship and always looked forward to competing against his teams. Coach left a legacy that will be remembered by everyone."
 
Former Player Vinny Esposito
"I have spent the past 14 years as a teacher, coach and now administrator in the public schools and Coach Hill has been one of the biggest influences in my life. Not only was he a tremendous baseball coach but he taught life lessons through the game of baseball. I am forever grateful to have the opportunity to play for him and to be part of the baseball program at Rutgers."

Director of Athletics Pat Hobbs
"Fred Hill was more than a hall of fame coach, he was a hall of fame person. His impact is far greater than 1,089 career baseball victories. It's beyond measure and lives within the countless individuals he coached, mentored and inspired. The entire Rutgers community will miss him dearly. Our sincere condolences to his wife Evelyn and the Hill family."

Former Player Nick Favatella
"When I think about Coach Hill, I think about family, and I think about respect. He cultivated a Rutgers baseball family from my first recruiting visit to the my last game as a Scarlet Knight. We enjoyed a lot of good times on the field, but it's the off-field interactions with Coach Hill, Mrs. Hill and the rest of the team that I remember most - like a family. I will always remember the respect with which he treated me, my teammates and my own personal family. I am honored to have had the opportunity to develop as a student-athlete under his leadership, I and am a better person for it."
 
Former Player & Coach Darren Fenster
"In September of 1996, I set foot on the Rutgers campus as an immature freshman baseball player who thought he had the game of baseball and the game of life both figured out. And then I started being around Coach Hill just about every day for the next four years who made sure, many days louder than others, that I got to know how much I truly didn't know.
 
"When I had originally committed to go to Rutgers and to play for Coach Hill, I did so without really having any idea what I was getting myself into. I had no idea that I was going to embark on a life-shaping journey with a man who, aside from my parents, would the greatest influence on my life. He was a second father to me.
 
"He is THE reason why I am a coach today. Coach Hill saw something in me before I was even ready to see it in myself upon the sudden end to my playing career. He gave me a second life in baseball, but more importantly, he gave me purpose to my life beyond baseball. If I can have just a tiny fraction of the impact on others that Fred Hill has had on me, my life will be a resounding success.
 
"Fred Hill turned me into a decent baseball player. And Fred Hill mentored me to become a pretty good baseball coach. But above all else, Fred Hill took me in as an immature 17 year old kid, and over the course of the next 23 years right up until his passing, helped shape me into the man I am today.
 
"Coach Hill may no longer be with us physically, but he will forever live inside of me, and countless other former players, coaches, friends, colleagues, and most importantly, family members whose lives he profoundly impacted, just by being Moose. While his coaching tree is impressive, it pales in comparison to the size of his life tree which has roots that go deep into the center of the earth and branches that can be seen for miles.
 
"Moose: We'll always miss you. We'll always love you. We'll always remember you. Rest In Peace."
 
Former Player Jeff Frazier
"Moose was not only a coach to me, he was the guy who taught me life lessons and how to handle everyday challenges during and throughout my career. He taught me how to act on and off the field and I will always be grateful for that.  Moose was a huge part in my dream of becoming a professional baseball player and the person I have become today."
 
Former Player Todd Frazier
"I can't even describe how much Moose has impacted my life. He was a perfectionist. Always wanted the most out of people. From his great quotes that no one understood, to his amazing wife banging the rocks all day, Moose inspired me to be the best baseball player I could be. Off the field, he taught me true skills to be a great man. For this I will pass this along to my kids. He is Jersey through and through. Great family man."
 
Former Rutgers Pitching Coach Rick Freeman
"I was a young coach when I started with Coach Hill and it made all the difference in what my career has become. He taught me so much, not just about how to coach on the field, but how to respect the players in everything they did and always to serve them in the best way possible. The thing I always will take with me is that we have that sign as we went out of the locker room that read 'practice doesn't make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect.' That set the tone for the whole program, not just how we handled ourselves on the field, but off as well. I think that's the last monument to his legacy."

Former Player & Coach Glen Gardner
"I could speak for hours on what Coach Hill represented. It was more than just baseball. As far as I'm concerned, I would never had been a coach if it wasn't for Moose. If I helped anyone through my 29 years, it was an extension of Moose. Everything I learned, I learned it from him. He influenced so many. Moose might not be with us on this planet anymore, but he's still teaching baseball to a lot of players."
 
Former Player & Coach Casey Gaynor
"Personally, I owe a ton to Coach Hill. He gave me opportunities in this game I could never imagined. He is one of the greatest people I know. A special family man, coach and overall person. He affected so many lives and I am forever grateful to spend all the time I did with him. Coach Hill taught me things I try to apply as a father, husband and person. To me, he was way more than just a coach. I will forever love and miss Moose, but he will never be forgotten."
 
Former Villanova Head Coach Joe Godri
"Coach Hill was an iconic baseball man, a fierce competitor and a mentor to countless people. I am grateful to have shared a friendship with Coach Hill and his family. God Bless."
 
Former Player Steve Healing
"Coach Hill wasn't only a great baseball coach, but he helped us become better men. His structured practices and strict approach to discipline helped give a lot of us the tools to become the people we are today. He cared about each and every one of us, and in his own way found time to give each player individual attention. He was a loving, church-going, family man who was the patriarch of a family who always showed up to our games in great numbers. Some of my greatest memories occurred while playing for Coach Hill and attending Rutgers University. I will always be grateful to him for giving me the opportunity to play baseball on his team. Thank you Moose."
 
Former Player Michael Higgins
"Moose wasn't like a father figure to me, he WAS a second father to me. Only years later did I come to appreciate all the little thing he taught me, on AND off the field. It's almost crazy to say this, but there isn't a day that goes by that I don't utilize one of those lessons he taught me. I guess the best compliment that I can give him is that, as I raise my kids, I try to instill in them all of the values that he tried to teach me."
 
Former Player Neil Ioviero
"When you are on this earth, you want to know that you are doing something noble and you are making a difference in people's daily lives. Coach Hill has made a difference in thousands of lives. He is the epitome of a man. We always tell our players that many years after you are done playing one or two words will sum you up. Sometimes those words will be good and sometimes not. Very simply, the two words that sum him up is THE BEST. I love him like a father and I'm so honored that he ended up coaching with me until the end. His love, principles, morals and ethics will stay with me and everyone else that he touched forever. My best decision in life wasn't coming to Rutgers, my best decision was being blessed to have him in my life. He has shaped me and many others in to who we are. May God bless him and his family because they are our family."
 
Former Player John Jennings
"I want to thank Coach Hill for giving me the opportunity to represent Rutgers University. It was a pleasure to play for such a well-respected man both on and off the field. Moose always cared about his players and taught us a great deal while we played for him and I will always be grateful for this."
 
Former Player Patrick Kivlehan
"I can strongly say I wouldn't be where I am today without Moose. He gave me an opportunity to play and show what I can do as a senior walk-on. I still use those same lessons he taught me seven years ago when I'm out there on the field. I am forever grateful for what Moose has done for me in my life."

Former Player, Coach & Current Head Coach Joe Litterio
"Where do I start? How do you say goodbye to a man who has meant so much to so many different people? He was a leader by example. He taught us to do things the right way, to win with class. Nothing fancy, just old-fashioned hard work. And that was just the baseball side of him. He taught us much more than the fundamentals of baseball. He taught us the fundamentals of life."
 
Former Player Ryan Lillis
"Moose and Mrs. Moose cared so much for all the players. Don't get me wrong, he loves to win. However, he cared just as much about all his players and their families. Kevin, Chris and I will be forever grateful for all he has done for our entire family. It is hard to find a man who has had a greater impact on the game of baseball in New Jersey. He will be missed."
 
Former Player Val Majewski
"We are thinking about Moose and his family and praying for them constantly. Tough to put into words what Coach Hill did for me and my baseball career. Basically, he gave me a shot. Gave me a chance to play D1 baseball, which led to a professional career. Most of my fundamental baseball knowledge I can attribute to my time at Rutgers and my working with Moose and Beef. I cannot thank Coach Hill and Glen enough for that. If I have any regrets, I wish I would have kept in touch more after moving out of the area. I feel privileged to have played under Moose. Thank you for giving me the opportunity. His impact will be long lasting as I am teaching the fundamentals and life lessons he taught me to the 10-year-old team that I coach."
 
Louisville Head Coach Dan McDonnell
"Getting to coach in the Big East was an honor because of the opportunity to go against several great coaches, with coach Fred Hill leading the class. It's not every day, but fortunately for us every year, we got to compete against a coach who passed the 1,000 win mark. I can only think of a handful of coaches in my career with that type of resume. I embraced the challenge because you knew his players would play the game the right way, but respected most how tough his kids were."
 
Former Georgia Tech & Miami Head Coach Jim Morris
"I've known Fred for a long, long time, competing against him as coach at Georgia Tech and at Miami. Fred was an outstanding competitor and an even better person. He carried his mentality as a football coach into baseball, and was always a tough competitor. I always enjoyed playing against him, because I knew it was going to be a hard-fought game each and every time. I give my condolences to his wife and the Hill family."
 
Former Player Ryan Molchan
"There isn't a person that played for Moose that doesn't smile when talking about him. Most of us didn't realize how lucky we were to have him as a coach until after we were done playing. He taught us way more than baseball, he taught us how to be a better person."
 
Former Player Steve Normane
"As a former player, to hear this tragic news about a man who was looked upon with such admiration and respect, is heartbreaking. Coach Hill was probably the most influential person in my life outside of my family. As one of the many who played for Moose and went on to coach, I can say that the way his practices, strategies and overall presence are imitated across the board is the ultimate testament to him as a coach and as a man. My thoughts and prayers go out to Mrs. Hill and the entire Hill family in this difficult time."

Former Player Marty O'Brien
"Family. Faith. Love. Commitment. Preparation. Effort. Service to Others. Sincerity. Loyalty. Generosity. Appreciation. The list of characteristics to describe Coach Hill goes on. As I reflect on my own 34-year relationship with him, I'm overwhelmed by the realization that only my parents have had more impact on me. I arrived as a late admission in Sept. 1985 with no clue about what I was about to experience beyond 'trying out' to pitch baseball for RU. During roll call with the other non-recruit walk-ons, I sensed Coach Hill had bigger plans than just fielding good teams. I made the fall JV team, but my goal was to be a varsity pitcher. Coach made the time to watch and coach me up with the same energy as the varsity players. That fueled my increased effort. So when Coach surprised me right before our 1986 season opener at UNC that I would travel, I wanted to return that trust and make him proud.

"Our '80s-era teams laid the foundation for the program's success. Over the years since, we've met at game visits, team reunions and other events honoring him. But with his passing, my personal reflections take me to:
⦁ Sunday Mass with Coach & Mrs. Hill on road trips. This was special one on one time for me. Their examples of faith, true love and respect for each other left a major impression. I appreciated their including me in their non-baseball conversations - especially about my family and me.
⦁ His generosity. During a normal conversation about my family (spring of my freshman season) I shared that my Dad lost his job. A few weeks later, he told me to put on a suit and attend a ceremony on campus without telling me why. As I was called up as the recipient of a grant from a RU donor, I realized Coach acted quickly - without being asked - to help my family.
⦁ My post-graduation visits to his office at the RAC where I'd catch up with him, Beef & Mrs. Sherwood. We'd continue about family, career, my goals & approach...then marriage, children, coaching youth baseball, etc. I realized at this point in our relationship he was checking that everything was 'OK,' and he was only going to coach me if I asked him to. But when I did, he'd answer 'what do you think?' When he told me 'you're right,' we laughed, and I knew he was happy for me.
⦁ Darrin Winston's wake. The entire 2008 team arrived on the team bus with Coach leading the way. Coach's pain was as visible as our pain. We recognized right there we lost a brother when our Baseball Dad arrived with his current team.
⦁ Our Baseball Alumni Reunion in April 2018. About a dozen teammates from the 80s met Coach Hill and Mrs. Hill for a private dinner. Many flew from far away. And some hadn't seen Moose since graduation. Though he held court for a much larger crew the next day at a RU game, Coach was very emotional and appreciative of spending quality time with his 'original' RU guys. He thanked each of us for caring enough to travel to see him and told everyone he loves us.

"So what is Coach Hill's impact? The simple title of 'Coach' falls short. Fred Hill, Sr. was simply a special MAN who extended himself selflessly to other people's children and cared enough to be their caretaker, disciplinarian, teacher, and trusted mentor. Thank you, MOOSE! We love you and will cherish our memories of you."
 
Former Player Brian O'Grady
"Moose has had a major impact in both my baseball career and life. I will always be thankful for the opportunity he gave me at Rutgers. Not only did he make me a better baseball player, but more importantly a better man. I know I speak for all of his former players when I say it was a privilege to learn every day from Moose."
 
Connecticut Head Coach Jim Penders
"From the outside, Fred Hill was a tough Jersey guy who loved to compete and always seemed to know something you didn't. For his players, he was a beloved father figure they called 'Moose.' He told it like it was, coached with a firm hand and a soft heart, and was an example to following generations of coaches that the best way to succeed in his profession was to follow a moral compass, teach with energy and passion, and always be yourself. Late into his legendary career, Coach Hill's sense for sniffing out a phony remained as sharp as his flat top and his infield/outfield drill. He was one of a kind and I will miss him."
 
Former Player Tim Querns
"When I first visited Rutgers' locker room, I noticed a sign that said 'perfect practice makes perfect.' I remember thinking, well, that's kind of obvious. But at the time, I did not know what a perfect practice looked like, or that the way Moose ran his practices would put me into a family I didn't know existed. That was a family of players who endured a 'Moose' practice. It didn't matter if you were a projected first rounder or a walk-on trying out. Moose expect everyone to practice at the same level, perfect. You could field 100 ground balls flawlessly and then miss the 101st. As you misplayed that one ball, you'd hear Moose tell you what you did wrong from the outfield. His attention to detail had us ready for any situation a game could offer. His immediate family and his Rutgers family hurt today. RIP Moose. My condolences go out to your family and Rutgers family."
 
Current Player and Former Bat Boy Eric Reardon
"Coach Hill gave me a baseball experience no one else on Earth could have. I grew up in uniform, shagging during BP, running baseballs out to the umpire, and being first in line for a high five, bat in hand, after someone hit a home run. Moose gave me the opportunity to grow up seeing great college baseball first hand, and instilled in me the type of pride that comes with putting on a Rutgers uniform. Without that influence from a young age, I wouldn't be where I am today. Thank you, Moose."
 
Rutgers Equipment Manager John Reardon
"My favorite Coach Hill one-liner has always been, 'when I got married I was six foot-three,' and I think everyone knows the rest of the quote. Though small in stature, Moose coached the game as if he were a seven-footer. Nine hundred forty-one wins in 30 years."
 
Former Player & Coach Tim Reilly
"Coach Hill did everything the 'right way.' It didn't matter how hard it was, how tired you were, or how you felt that day. We were going to do it the 'right way' or you weren't going to do it at all. Moose's favorite song was 'My Way' by Frank Sinatra. I can remember him telling me as a young coach looking for advice that you should always go with your gut, you'll know the decisions you need to make. They'll usually be the most difficult choice. I know I can make those decisions today because I learned how to do it the 'right way' from Coach Hill."

Former Player Nathaniel Roe
"Moose was one of the best coaches I ever played for. His love for the game of baseball made it fun to show up and work hard. Not only did he teach me how to be a better ball player, he taught me how to be a better person. He believed in all of his players and he found ways to bring out the best in us. I will forever be grateful to Moose for giving me the opportunity to play Division 1 baseball. Heroes get remembered, but legends never die."
 
Seton Hall Baseball
"The Seton Hall baseball family is saddened to hear of the passing of coaching legend, Fred Hill, Sr. For decades, Coach Hill's teams showed the same character and work-ethic reflective of the man. He was a tremendous competitor and a true positive influence for our game and the many young people he inspired."

Former Player Leon Shade
"Coach Hill was more than just my coach, he was a father figure to me and I loved him. He validated me as a player and as a person. Who can put a price on someone who impacts lives? How can you find words to express gratitude toward someone who has changed lives? Moose was a fantastic coach, but his spirit and his desire to make people better is what I have always held on to. Coach Hill has passed on, but he is still teaching. His lessons are in me, in my approach to life, and even in my kids.

"The last time I saw Moose was at the alumni game. When I saw him I hugged him for a long time, probably longer than he would have liked. I had tried so many times before to tell him how much he meant to me and how much his attention to a kid from a single parent home, was a dream come true. But this time I just hugged him and celebrated the chance to run around with all his other players just one more time. I love you coach. My life would have been so different without your incredible care and powerful aura."
 
Former Player Scott Simpson
"As a man, four years after I was done playing, my grandfather, who I was very close with and came to a lot of games passed away. Who came to the wake/funeral over an hour away from where he lived? Coach Hill. For all the memories Coach will leave me with, I don't think any will top this. And as a coach and leader, Coach Hill could have coached any sport and been successful."

Former Player Rob Smorol
"Coach Hill will always be remembered for the love and passion he had for the game of baseball. He truly lived and breathed the game. Whether it was a big conference game in May or a freezing cold practice in October, there was no place Moose would rather be every single day than on a baseball field."
 
Former Player Pat Sweeney
"Growing up I had the privilege of watching Moose coach my brother in the early 2000s. Ever since those days it was always a dream of mine to step on Bainton Field, not as a little brother, but as a member of the baseball team. I am forever grateful for the opportunity that Coach Hill gave me 10 years later to help me realize my dream, and keep my family's Rutgers baseball legacy alive with three varsity letterwinners."
 
Longtime Friend Jeff Torborg
"I've known Freddy Hill for nearly 60 years. We first met when I was a college baseball player at Rutgers, while playing in the Essex County summer league, when Freddy came home from minor league baseball.  We played against each other for a couple of summers; and years later played basketball against each other in a charity game at Clifford Scott High School. I followed his coaching career at Pequannock High and Montclair State College.  When my Hall-of-Fame college baseball coach Matt Bolger decided to retire from Rutgers, the athletic director at RU asked me for a recommendation for the baseball coaching position, and Freddy's name immediately came to mind. And the rest is history. What a career."
 
Former Player David Y. Williams III
"Today is a very sad day. Moose was a great man that will be remembered for much more than just his win/loss record. He was a tremendous, coach, mentor and friend. You can count me among the many who will miss him. The entire Hill family is my prayers."
 
Former Player Eric Young
"I'm deeply saddened at the moment, sending prayers and love to him as well as the family. Moose gave me a chance to be a major league player with discipline and desire despite the circumstances or odds.
 
"Hey Moose, are we going outside?
Yes.
It's too cold out there.
Young man, if an old fart like me can go out there, so can you!
It's a state of mind, let's go!
Of course, he's the first to walk out and of course I came in last. Moose was the best."
 
Former Player Pete Zoccolillo
"Words cannot express what coach Fred Hill has meant to so many of us who played for him at Rutgers. Coach Hill was more than a mentor to us, more than a role model, he was like a second father, and for some, their only father figure. In my experiences through baseball, many coaches believe that by having their players fear them, they will get the most out of them on the field. Not Coach Hill. Not ever. The difference was, we never wanted to let him down both on and off the field. For that reason alone, he got the most out of all of us. Over a thousand wins to be exact. That to me, is the true sign of a great coach.
 
"Moose (as well all referred to him), not only prepared us on how to approach the game with class, dignity and respect, but also took those same teachings and helped us implement that into our daily lives. There is no greater loss to the baseball community than losing Fred Hill. He will go down as one of the greatest coaches, greatest people and the greatest influencer that most of us will ever know in a lifetime. We are all completely heartbroken."
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Players Mentioned

Eric Reardon

#14 Eric Reardon

LHP
6' 5"
Junior
Business

Players Mentioned

Eric Reardon

#14 Eric Reardon

6' 5"
Junior
Business
LHP
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