In 1970, Hill began his coaching career as head coach at Clifford Scott High School in his native East Orange, New Jersey. Hill then was an assistant coach at Montclair State College from 1972 to 1974. Hill then spent one season as an assistant coach at Lehigh University and served as head coach for Lehigh from 1975 to 1983. In eight seasons at Lehigh, Hill had a 75–131 record; Lehigh's best record under Hill was 14–12 in 1980–81. In 1983, Hill joined head coach Bruce Parkhill's staff at Penn State. Hill began his NBA coaching career in 1986 as an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks under Mike Fratello. The two met at Montclair State College when Hill was studying to be certified as a driver's education teacher. In 1990, Hill joined the Orlando Magic as an assistant coach under Matt Guokas. He was the head coach of the Orlando Magic from 1993 to 1997 and is the Magic's most successful coach with a record of 191–104. During that time period, he led the Magic to their first NBA Finals in 1995 and also led the team to a 60–22 record the following season. However, following the loss of star center Shaquille O'Neal to free agency during the off-season, he was fired mid-season in 1997 after a player revolt was led by disgruntled star Penny Hardaway. Following his firing from the Magic, he became head coach of the third-year, expansion Vancouver Grizzlies in 1997. Hill was fired early in his third season. Following that, he became an assistant coach of the New Jersey Nets, where he remained until the end of the postseason. He was then rehired by the Magic and he led the team to a 36–46 record in the 2005–2006 season. On May 23, 2007, after multiple media sources reported that Hill would not return to coach the Orlando Magic for the 2007–08 NBA season, but would instead be offered another position within the organization, the Magic released a statement that he would not return as coach of the Magic, although it was reported he was actually fired by general managerOtis Smith. It was a position he had held since May 24, 2005. It was his second stint with the team.
Head coaching record
College
NBA
Personal life
Hill, a graduate of John F. Kennedy College in Nebraska, has two adult children, Kimberly and Christopher. His daughter was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at 5 years old and, as a result, Hill has supported cystic fibrosis research by holding fundraisers and speaking to crowds about the disease. He and his wife Kay live in Orlando, Florida, where they have remained even after his original departure from the Orlando Magic.
