Fitz Hill

Who is Fitz Hill?

Fitzgerald Hill is a college administrator and former American football player and coach. He is currently the president of Arkansas Baptist College. Hill served as the head football coach at San Jose State University from 2001 to 2004, compiling a record of 14–33.

Born to James and Mary Hill, the youngest of three brothers, Fitz Hill grew up in the Ouachitas around Arkadelphia, Arkansas. His father routinely worked 14-hour days, leaving his job at the Arkadelphia Beverage Co. to work as a janitor in the evening; His mother, a high school registrar, also did volunteer work with local college students and kids at her church. As a student, Hill was elected class president of Arkadelphia High School. Hill earned an athletic scholarship to Northeast Louisiana University, then a Division I-AA school, playing wide receiver on the football team. In 1983, while a college freshman, his father died of stomach cancer and, six weeks later, his mother had an aneurysm and then, 10 days after that, a stroke that left her partially paralyzed and unable to speak. Hill left school to help take care of his mother and put his family's affairs in order. To return to school, Hill enrolled at hometown Ouachita Baptist University, working retail and joining the Army ROTC for financial support. He continued to play football and was a NAIA All-American; he graduated with bachelor degrees in Communications and Physical Education. He received a masters degree in Student Personnel Services from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana, where he served as a graduate assistant football coach during the 1988 football season.