John Hill

Director of Intercollegiate Athletics

Alma Mater: Heidelberg '70

John D. Hill was hired as the third full-time Athletic Director in Shenandoah University history in June 2002. Hill came to SU after a more than 26 year career as the Athletic Director and Head Men's Basketball Coach at Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio.

During those years, Hill won a school record 357 games as the head men’s basketball coach and served as the athletic director from 1984 until coming to Shenandoah. He also served at different times as head men’s tennis coach, head men’s cross country coach, head men’s golf coach and chair of the health, physical education and athletic training department.

Hill replaces John “Shep” Campbell as Shenandoah AD; Campbell served as athletic director from January to April 2002 following the death of long-time Athletic Director Dave Dutton in October 2001.

In addition to his undergraduate work at Heidelberg, Hill earned a master’s degree from SUNY-Buffalo in 1974 and a bachelor’s in education from Bowling Green in 1984. In addition to doctoral work at the United States Sports Academy, Hill has both Level I and Level III certification from the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).

Since 1988, Shenandoah’s Athletic Department has grown from one to 16 full-time employees and nine sports to 16 during Dutton’s tenure as athletic director from 1988 to 2001. Hill has continued Dutton's plan by adding three more full-time positions and having just two coaches have to coach in more than one season. More than 50 people now work in athletics in either a full or part-time role.

Under Hill's direction, the SU athletic department has experienced unparalleled success. The football team has won USA South Conference championships in both 2003 and 2004, the men's basketball team won a school record 10 USA South Conference games in 2003-04 and the women's lacrosse team played in the 2004 USA South Conference Tournament championship game.

Hill also has directed the improvement of numerous campus athletic facilities including Shingleton Gymnasium, the soccer field, the field hockey field and the softball diamond. Shingleton Gymnasium, the home of the Hornets volleyball and basketball programs, doubled its seating capacity, received new basketball goals and volleyball nets and the playing surface was completely refurbished and has a brand-new paint job.

The three outdoor playing fields have all been resodded with the soccer field getting a drainage and irrigation system and the softball diamond getting a new electronic scoreboard.

Hill is also at the forefront of the school's plans to add game day lockerroom building to Shentel Stadium and build an athletic center to house the entire department.

Hill has two grown children: Nate, a 1999 Heidelberg graduate, and Carrie, who graduated from Otterbein College in May 2002.

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