Softball

Coach Hill is a retired police officer with the Mesa Police Department. Upon his retirement, he received his post baccalaureate in Education and began his teaching profession. The fall of 2011 marked his 12th year as an educator. In addition to serving the community as a law enforcement officer, he was an assistant softball coach at Mesa High School. In 2002, he was hired as the head softball coach at Dobson High school leading the Mustangs to five state tournament appearances.
 
Coach Hill attended Mesa Community College and earned a degree in Administration of Justice.  He received a Bachelor in Business Administration from University of Phoenix. He also completed his Masters in Education from Grand Canyon University. 
During his past 10 years at Dobson, his teams were successful in breaking nearly every hitting record.  Coach Hill coached the 5-A Senior All-star teams to wins in 2003 and 2005. In 2009, he was selected as the All-East Valley Region Coach of the Year.
 
Coach Hill served the softball community as the East Valley Region Softball representative for the Arizona Interscholastic Association.  He served on the Arizona Coaches Association as the softball representative which he was responsible for organizing the selection of all-stars and coordinating the senior all-star game. He served on the executive board for two years, and most recently served as the Executive Director for the association before retiring his chair.
 
For the past six years, Coach Hill was an invited camp clinician at Baylor University. His exposure to a quality softball program better prepared him for coaching at the collegiate level.
 
Coach Hill has also served the community in a variety of ways. He organized the annual event, Base for the Cure, to help raise funds for the American Cancer Society. He also served as the sponsor for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Native American Club, and the Lady Mustang Softball Club.
 
Family is a high priority with Coach Hill. He and his lovely wife Eva recently celebrated their 35th year of marriage. They are proud parents of four wonderful children who have blessed them with six beautiful grandchildren. Their children have earned degrees in education, biology, and environmental technology.
 
Coach Hill shares his educational and coaching philosophy in that he sees himself as a teacher. Although he strives and lives for winning, he feels that athletics is much more.  Because athletics can be so beneficial and rewarding, it is his job as a coach to provide an environment in which all athletes can grow as people, as they work for and experience the enjoyment of softball. 
 
Self-responsibility is at a premium. He wants the student-athlete to take charge of their life, to be proactive in decision-making and to offer their special gifts to the team.  The focus is on the process of improving as a softball player.  Virtues such as discipline, teamwork, focus, self-confidence, leadership, determination, sacrifice, respect, and the ability to set and achieve goals are all things that will make an individual successful in life. The value of the process and what was learned in that process, however, will stay with the athlete beyond softball well after their playing days are over.
 
whill@mesacc.edu
480-461-7322