Fitz Hill facts for kids

Omon Fitzgerald Hill (born March 28, 1964) is a former American football player and coach. He also served as a college president. Fitz Hill was the head football coach at San Jose State University from 2001 to 2004. Later, he became the president of Arkansas Baptist College from 2006 to 2016.

Early Life and Challenges

Fitz Hill grew up in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, as the youngest of three brothers. His father worked very long hours to support the family. His mother was a high school registrar and helped out at their church. Fitz was a good student and was even elected class president at Arkadelphia High School.

When Fitz was a freshman in college, his father passed away. Soon after, his mother became very ill. Fitz left college to return home and help care for her.

College Football Journey

Fitz Hill first earned a scholarship to Northeast Louisiana University. He played as a wide receiver for their football team. After his family challenges, he transferred to Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia.

To pay for his studies, Fitz worked hard. He managed a shoe repair store and even started his own laundromat. He also joined the Army ROTC. Despite these responsibilities, he continued to play football. He was recognized as an All-American player in 1985 and 1986. He graduated in 1987 with degrees in communications and physical education.

Military Service

Fitz Hill's career was briefly paused when he served in the Gulf War. He was a transportation officer, helping to move food and supplies to American troops. For his service, he was promoted to first lieutenant and received special awards like the Bronze Star.

Coaching Career

Starting Out (1987–1988)

After college, Fitz Hill began his coaching career. He started as an assistant football coach at Arkadelphia High School in 1987. The next year, he became a graduate assistant coach at Northwestern State University while studying for his master's degree.

Time at Arkansas (1989–2000)

In 1989, Hill joined the University of Arkansas as a graduate assistant for the Arkansas Razorbacks football team. He also spent some time coaching quarterbacks and wide receivers at Northwestern State. He continued to volunteer as an assistant coach for Arkansas while finishing his master's degree.

In 1992, he became the wide receivers coach for Arkansas. He stayed in this role for many years. In 1998, he also took on the job of recruiting coordinator, helping to find new players for the team. By 2000, he was promoted to assistant head coach.

During his time at Arkansas, the team had several successful seasons. They were ranked among the top college teams in 1995, 1998, and 1999. They also played in several important bowl games, winning the 2000 Cotton Bowl Classic.

In 1997, Fitz Hill earned his doctorate degree from Arkansas. His research focused on the challenges black coaches faced in finding jobs.

Leading San Jose State (2001–2004)

In December 2000, Fitz Hill became the head coach for the San Jose State University Spartans football team. He was one of the few head coaches with a doctorate degree at the time.

When he took over, the San Jose State athletic department faced financial difficulties. This meant the team often had to play away games against bigger, well-known schools.

2001 Season

In his first year, San Jose State finished with 3 wins and 9 losses. The number of fans attending home games also decreased. This put the team's top-tier college football status at risk due to new NCAA rules about attendance.

2002 Season

The team improved in 2002, winning 6 games and losing 7. Most of their games that season were played away from home. They started strong, even beating a team that had won the Big Ten Conference. However, they struggled in the later part of the season.

2003 Season

Fitz Hill worked to schedule a special game in 2003 against Grambling State, a historically black university. This game was called the Dr. Martin Luther King Literacy Classic. It aimed to raise money for reading programs. San Jose State won this game 29–0, and it was a sellout crowd.

Despite this success, the team finished the 2003 season with 3 wins and 8 losses. Some games were very close, with the Spartans losing by just a few points.

The graduation rate for San Jose State football players improved during this time. However, some players struggled to keep up with their studies, which affected the team's academic standing.

2004 Season

Due to rising costs and lower attendance, some faculty at San Jose State suggested the football program should move to a lower division.

Hill organized another special game in 2004, the Read-2-Lead Classic. This game also featured events like a discussion with Fitz Hill and Bill Cosby. While San Jose State won the game, fewer fans attended compared to the previous year's Classic.

San Jose State finished the 2004 season with 2 wins and 9 losses. One exciting game was a 70–63 victory over Rice, which set a record for combined points in a non-overtime game.

On November 22, 2004, Fitz Hill announced he would step down as head coach after the season. He finished his time at San Jose State with an overall record of 14 wins and 33 losses.

College President (2006–2016)

After coaching, Fitz Hill returned to Arkansas. He became the executive director of a fund at Ouachita Baptist University. He also helped start a youth sports program.

In 2006, he became the 13th president of Arkansas Baptist College (ABC). When he took over, the college was facing big challenges. It had very few students and was in danger of losing its accreditation, which means its degrees might not be recognized.

Under Fitz Hill's leadership, ABC saw amazing growth. In five years, the number of students grew from under 200 to 1,100. The college's budget also increased significantly. Most importantly, ABC kept its accreditation, ensuring its future.

Personal Life

Fitz Hill is a devoted Christian. He is married to Cynthia Hill, whom he met in college. She also earned her doctorate degree and works in college administration. They have three children named Destiny, Faith, and Justice.

Head Coaching Record